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The University of Botswana (UB) and three (3) other public universities have formalised a partnership to strengthen public procurement, share best practices and leverage collective resources.

The three (3) institutions are Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and Botswana Open University (BOU).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at UB on the 13th of August 2026, establishes a framework for the institutions to collaborate on procurement policies and procedures, compliance with public procurement legislation, governance and internal controls, capacity building, joint training and benchmarking.

Welcoming the partnership, UB Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, described the signing as an opportunity for the institutions to learn from one another. Professor Norris cited the South African model where universities have established a purchasing consortium that enables them to collectively negotiate contracts and secure better value.

He encouraged Botswana’s public universities to consider adopting a similar approach, noting that the South African consortium had expressed interest in having Botswana institutions join the initiative. He urged the universities to move with speed in exploring such opportunity. Professor Norris also called for broader collaboration beyond procurement particularly through the formation of research groups in niche areas where the institutions could combine their expertise to generate research with significant national and international impact.

Giving an overview of the MoU, UB Chief Finance Officer, Mr Davis Tele, said the partnership would enhance compliance with public procurement laws while creating opportunities for the institutions to exchange best practices. He noted that the combined procurement expenditure of the universities, estimated at about P500 million, gave them significant bargaining power when negotiating collectively.

The partnership will facilitate the sharing of procurement policies, procedures and compliance documents, strengthen procurement governance and internal controls, and support capacity development through joint training and benchmarking exercises.

BIUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Elisha Shemang, said the collaboration presented significant opportunities for the universities to pool resources and speak with one voice. He stressed that working in silos would limit the institutions' ability to contribute meaningfully to Botswana's transition to a knowledge economy especially at a time when research funding remained a challenge. Professor Shemang further called for the reinvigoration of the Committee of Vice Chancellors to strengthen collaboration among the country's higher education institutions.

BOU Vice Chancellor, Professor Kgomotso Moahi, described the signing as a milestone and commended procurement officers for initiating the collaboration. She said as publicly funded institutions with similar mandates, the universities should focus on collaboration rather than competition.

Professor Moahi emphasised that sound procurement was fundamental to the effective delivery of teaching, research and other university mandates. She noted that strengthening procurement practices would also help maintain public trust in an area that often attracted scrutiny over governance and corruption.

“Proper procurement enables teaching, research and all the other things we do as universities,” she said, stressing the importance of ensuring that accounting officers were adequately supported through compliance with the Procurement Act and its regulations.

Acting Vice Chancellor of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Professor Wellington Masamba, described procurement as a critical area requiring institutions to work together. He said collaboration would allow the universities to share best practices, strengthen their bargaining power and collectively advocate for research funding.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Obusitswe Andries, Desk Officer for the Ministry of Higher Education at the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), highlighted the importance of guidance and compliance in public procurement. He said his role included providing guidance on the Procurement Act and helping institutions avoid deviations from established procurement requirements.