The COE concept seeks to ensure that key councils are identified across the region and worked with very closely in their process of getting gender on their council's agenda. The approach also seeks to develop synergy in GL programme work by focusing various projects from our SADC Gender Protocol, governance, media and justice programmes in specific localities.

The councils' progress in Botswana

Council	About the council	Stages
Gaberone	Gaborone is the Botswana capital and located in the South Eastern Region of Botswana. We had workshop with Gaborone City Council where a Gender Action Plan were developed. The action plan has been given to the council to edit and adopt. The plan was handed to the Mayor of the City.
Francistown	The City of Francistown is the second city in the country is situated in the Northern part of Botswana closer to the borders of Zimbabwe. The city is reckoned for booming mining industry and with potential for tourism as it is a gateway to tourism destinations, such as Nata, Maun and Kasane. The city had developed a gender action plan and further follow up to this plan will take place in March 2011 during the CoE process, through a management meeting and situation analysis..
Chobe	Chobe District is located on the North most part of the country forming international boundary with the caprivi strip of Namibia to the North West, Zambia to the North and Zimbabwe to the East, Chobe can be said to be the home of game in Botswana. The district has diverse animal species including the so called “BIG FIVE” and a booming tourism industry. The district council has developed a gender action plan during a workshop with Gender Links in 2010, which is to be adopted by the council.
Ghanzi	The district is the largest game reserve complex in the country and the reserve provides wide base for satisfying tourist activities and research. Ghanzi is also characterised by an assortment of ethnic and cultural groupings and with different languages spoken. The internationally known annual Kuru Dance Festival mainly Basarwa dance and culture is hosted by Ghanzi District. As a local authority the council is mandated to provide infrastructure, social services and economic development through programs and projects. Council responsibility therefore includes primary health, primary education, water services, roads, programs designed for Remote Area Dwellers, destitute programs etc. Ghanzi District Council has made an inspiring effort to address gender issues by mainstreaming their gender action plan into the council’s strategic plan.	Completed stages I and II
Jwaneng	The town of Jwaneng is located within the Southern district, the sixth largest district in the country and the second smallest in the country. The economic base of Jwaneng is dominated by mining and its associated construction work. The Jwaneng mine has a tremendous economic impact both regionally and nationally and its serves as the main stimulant for the role of Jwaneng in the sub region settlement hierarchy and role as centre for western Kweneng , Ngwaketse, Kgalagadi, and Ghanzi Districts. During the gender and local government workshop in Jwaneng, a gender action plan was developed and to be adopted by the council.
Lobatse	The town of Lobatse is pleasantly situated in a range of hills with tree lined avenues and slightly wetter, cooler climate and the oldest town in the country having been established in 1897. The town has a distinction of having the first tarmac road in Botswana during the early 1980s. Lobatse is the seat of Botswana’s judiciary. During the gender and local government workshop in Lobatse, a gender action plan was developed and to be adopted by the council. Lobatse participated in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign by organising a Mayor’s High tea to bring together different stakeholders within the town to encourage women’s economic empowerment. This best practice will also be presented at the Gender Justice and Local Government Summit in Johannesburg in 2011.
Kgalagadi	Kgalagadi is the fourth largest districtin Botswana and it is situated in the South West of the country lying along the country’s border with South Africa. The district covers a vast area of the Kalahari desert. 26 councillors represent the people of the area, who resides in the constituencies of Kgalagadi South and North. Administratively the council operates from its main offices in Tsabong and Hukuntsi being headquarters and sub headquarters respectively. Kgalagadi was the first council to host Gender Links and BALA in 2009 and embark on the gender workshop and developed their own gender action plan.
Kweneng	Kweneng District located in the South Eastern part of Botswana. Kweneng District Council has various departments which serve to implement its mandate; among these are Social and Community Development, Water and Waste water department, the architecture and buildings department. Kweneng District worked together with GL and BALA in hosting gender workshops for its sub councils Molepolole, Letlhakeng and Mogoditshane. These sub councils have developed gender action plans to be adopted by the council. The Kweneng District has its own Gender Committee which undertakes various activities to promote gender equality and is also one of the best practices presenters at the Gender Justice and Local Government Summit in Johannesburg in 2011.
Kgatleng	The district is nestled between Gaborone City and South East District Councils in the South, Kweneng District Council in the west and Central District on the North and linked to the north and south by the Botswanas main A1 road. A gender workshop was held in the council in 2010 and the council has been active in implementing its gender action plan. As a result, Kgatleng District Council was selected to participate at the Gender Justice and Local Government Summit in Johannesburg in 2010 and 2011.
North East	North East District is the second smallest district in Botswana, with its council head quarters based in Masunga. A gender and local government workshop was held with the council in 2010 and the council is to adopt its gender action plan.	Completed stages I and II
North West	North West District is made up of the Ngami sub district with headquarters in Maun and the Okanvango sub-district which is headquartered in Gumare. It is home to the world famous Okavango delta, attracting tourism and therewith employment to the inhabitants of the district. A gender and local government workshop was held with the council in 2010 and the council is to adopt its gender action plan.
Southern	Southern District Council has its headquarters in Kanye and has worked together with GL and BALA in hosting gender workshops for its sub councils Mabutsane and Moshopa. These sub councils have developed gender action plans to be adopted by the council.
Sowa	Sowa Township Authority is located by the Sua Pan region within the Makgadikgadi Pan and its main economic activity is in mineral mining. The council has been very active in implementation of their gender action plan and undertaken activities to fight GBV. Therefore, Sowa was amongst the first councils that presented their best practices at the Gender Justice and Local Government Summit in Johannesburg in 2010 and did Botswana proud by being a runner up in the response category.
Selebi Pikwe	The town of Selibe Phikwe is located in the north eastern part of Botswana, established as a mining town after the discovery of copper and nickel. A gender and local government workshop was undertaken with the council in 2010 and a gender action plan was developed.
South East	South East District Council has its head quarters in Ramotswa, located in between Gaborone and Lobatse. A gender and local government workshop was undertaken with the council in 2010 and a gender action plan was developed.

Stages in the process are:

Stage I: Meetings with management teams and political heads of councils
Stage II: Situational Analysis
Stage III: Council level policy and implementation workshops
Stage IV: Community mobilisation village level meetings on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
Stage V: Capacity building through on the job training: Modules include: Gender, elections and the media, Making IT and the media work for you, Campaigns, Communication
Stage VI: Application of skills in the running of major campaigns, e.g. 365 Days of Action to End Gender Based Violence