From 27 July to 05 August 2013 and under the kind invitation of the Republic of Botswana, Mr Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, and Ms Mmantsetsa Marope, Director of the Division for Basic Learning and Skills Development at UNESCO, undertook an exploratory mission to Gaborone, Botswana in order to ascertain on the ground and facilitate the establishment of a Category 2 Centre to promote skills for inclusive and sustainable development.

During the mission the team has met the Honorary Minister of Education and Skills Development, Permanent Secretary and the team members of TVET subsector reform working group led by the Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO.

The team also discussed with different stakeholders of skills development organizations, including the representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Human Resource Development Advisory Council, Botswana Chamber of Mines, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, University of Botswana and Institute of Development Management (IDM) The team also visited Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology and held discussions with the management team