Botswana

Botswana and International IDEA

Botswana became a member of International IDEA in 1997.

Botswana, a First Past the Post democracy, collaborates closely with IDEA and provides funding to the overall work of the Institute.

A large part of IDEA’s funding comes from its member states “core contributions”, which finance the entire work programme of the Institute: Programme of Operations 2007-09. Each of IDEA’s member states is therefore involved and instrumental in IDEA’s work to promote democracy worldwide.

Highlights of International IDEA’s activities in relation to Botswana:

• The Implementation of Quotas: African Experiences, a report examining women’s political representation on the African continent, showing how quotas have contributed to increasing women’s access to political power.
• “Improving the Quality of Electoral System Design in Southern Africa” Seminar in Gaborone, Botswana in July 2005, which launched Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook (2005), an easy-to-use guide with practical information about electoral system choice and modification.
• On 23 March 2006, IDEA joined President Festus Mogae of Botswana to address the Swedish Parliament, diplomats and King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden on “The Challenge of Building Democracy in an Era of Globalization”.

Friends of International IDEA

Facts and figures about democracy in Botswana

Using IDEA’s worldwide democracy and elections databases, learn more about:

• Comparative data on election systems, laws, management and administration
• Voter turnout in Botswana 1965 – 2004
• Information on electoral quotas for women in Botswana
  
• Laws on funding of political parties in Botswana