In a landmark moment for Botswana’s nonprofit sector, the Civic Advisory Hub (CAH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, the Registrar of Societies, and the wider nonprofit fraternity, officially launched the NPOs–Regulators Connect: A Re BUE platform in Gaborone. The hybrid event brought together over 100 in-person participants from civil society organizations and regulatory agencies, with a broader digital audience joining online.
This launch of the NRC platform marks a critical step toward bridging the gap between Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) and regulatory authorities in Botswana. It follows a pivotal two-day workshop titled “Protecting Your Charity from Terrorist Abuse – It Begins with You,” and builds on CAH’s year-long regional engagement across East and Southern Africa. These workshops have focused on closing the knowledge gap around the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, with particular emphasis on mitigating its unintended consequences on NPOs through a adopting risk-based approach to implementation of FATF Recommendation 8.
As Botswana continues to hold a non-compliant rating under FATF Recommendation 8, which centers on protecting NPOs from Terrorist Financing (TF) abuse, the NRC launch is both timely and strategic. With the next Mutual Evaluation scheduled for 2027, the platform represents a proactive move to foster trust, transparency, impact accountability, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing Botswana’s AML/CFT deficiencies.
What distinguishes NRC is its dialogue-driven and collaboration-focused design. Rather than imposing compliance in a top-down manner, NRC provides a platform where regulators and NPOs dialogue and work together to develop practical, context-sensitive solutions to challenges facing the nonprofit sector. As the platform’s tagline suggests, “A Re Bue” (“Let’s Talk”), it champions conversation as a tool for mutual understanding and trust.
NRC also responds directly to the longstanding issue of maintaining an enabling environment for NPOs, while ensuring compliance with global AML/CFT standards. NRC supports not just legal compliance but also organizational learning and mutual trust.
Key stakeholders underscored this vision during the launch:
Hon. Pius Mokgware, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, described the launch as, “Timely and essential. It has the potential to close significant AML/CFT gaps and support FATF compliance.”
Yona Wanjala, Executive Director of Civic Advisory Hub, highlighted its sustainability and regional success, “#NRC has proven effective in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe—Botswana now carries the baton.”
The #AReBue platform thus represents a shift from compliance as a checkbox exercise to a collaborative NPO-driven model grounded in mutual trust, accountability and shared goals.
With sustained stakeholder engagement and a commitment to learning and adaptability, NRC has the potential to reposition Botswana positively on the FATF compliance spectrum. At the same time, it enhances the resilience and impact of its nonprofit sector, safeguarding it from TF risk while advancing its vital contribution to national development.