Empowering Local Enterprises

Background

Driving citizen entrepreneurship and economic growth through innovative policies and the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), the Government of Botswana is building a thriving, inclusive economy for all.

Citizens First

The Government of Botswana has long been committed to citizen economic empowerment. Since Independence, policies and programmes have been introduced to help citizens and citizen-owned companies actively participate in the mainstream economy. These initiatives, outlined in National Development Plans and other policy frameworks, have consistently promoted entrepreneurship and citizen participation in economic growth.

Fueling Citizen Entrepreneurship

To strengthen this mandate, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) was established in 2001. This was in direct response to recommendations from the National Conference on Citizen Economic Empowerment (1999) and the 4th Evaluation of the Financial Assistance Policy (2000). Both processes highlighted the need to consolidate empowerment schemes and provide financing through loans rather than grants.

Inclusive Financing

Today, CEDA serves as a key empowerment vehicle, offering diverse financing solutions designed to meet the unique needs of citizen enterprises. By funding projects that may not ordinarily receive support from commercial banks, CEDA continues to foster entrepreneurship and unlock opportunities for Batswana.