From water scarcity to security: Improving lives and creating jobs in Botswana

We arrived in the village of Damochujenaa, in the eastern part of Botswana, on a hot afternoon. Perhaps not by coincidence, Damochujenaa in Setswana means "a water borehole that belongs to a foreigner.” Home to roughly 1,500 people, many from vulnerable communities, the village lay quiet under the midday sun. By late afternoon, activity picked up, with donkey carts passing by and children gathering in open spaces to play. 

Kgakgamatso Morupisi, an elderly resident, welcomed us into her home. As we walked into her yard, we passed a simple water tap that would take up most of our conversation. For decades, water scarcity shaped daily life in Damochujenaa. Ms. Morupisi recalled the routine: twice a day, she walked to the river, carrying two buckets in her hands and balancing another on her head to bring home muddy water. The village’s few public standpipes were unreliable, often dry in this drought-prone district. Water trucks arrived only intermittently. Weeks could pass without supply. And when it was available, the quality was poor. She spoke of stained teeth and recurring stomach problems.

Damochujenaa was among several drought hotspots that emerged across Botswana during the 2015-16 drought — the worst in over three decades, which exposed deep vulnerabilities in the country’s water system. In response, the Government of Botswana, with support from the World Bank and the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership, launched the Botswana Emergency Water Security and Efficiency Project to improve water availability in drought-affected communities.

In Damochujenaa, which previously relied on low-yield boreholes, the project connected the village to an existing water treatment system of the Selebi-Phikwe-Serule Water Transfer Scheme and expanded household connections. The impact is immediate and visible.

Today, Ms. Morupisi turns on a tap in her yard and gets clean water. She does not need to spend hours fetching water anymore. More importantly, she trusts the water she drinks. To make that clear, she offered us a glass. After hours in the heat, the water was clear, cool, and refreshing.

But the story does not end at the household. Water is a foundational input into economic activity that generates jobs and income.

Mojwadi Dikatholo runs a tuck shop, a small convenience store, in the village. Ice-pops, simple sachets of frozen flavored water, are among her best-selling items. With reliable, clean water, she can produce more and meet demand. Customers prefer her products because of the improved water quality. Sales have increased, and her income is more predictable. A basic service is supporting local business.

Ensuring a reliable water supply in drought-affected areas, however, is technically complex. In the Boteti sub-district another drought hotspot settlements are widely dispersed, with fewer than two residents per square kilometer. Local hydrological conditions add to the challenge. High evaporation and proximity to salt-rich soils leave much of the groundwater saline. As a result, water deficits would mean villages at the end of the network would not get any water. 

We visited the primary school in Kedia, one such village at the end of the network. The school serves more than 600 students, including 162 boarders. Mr. Topo Phaladze, the principal, described the conditions before: water was salty and supply was unreliable, with disruptions lasting up to two weeks. The school relied on water trucks to meet basic needs. Core functions were affected. School meals, a cornerstone of Botswana’s education system, could not be prepared. For boarding students, this was critical. At times, students had to be sent home.

Today, the situation is markedly different. We saw students in uniform moving between classes, stopping to fill their water bottles from large storage tanks on the school grounds. Water from indoor taps is piped into these tanks to make it easier for students to have water. Mr.  Phaladze showed us the kitchen, where clean water is now used to prepare meals, wash utensils, and keep the school running. With reliable water in place, the school can function as intended, preparing the next generation of the workforce.

What makes these outcomes possible is the way the Boteti system has been designed to respond to the area’s constraints. The project combined multiple solutions: drilling and connecting additional boreholes, expanding transmission and storage, and, critically, introducing a desalination plant through the Boteti Southern and Central Villages Water Supply Scheme. The plant treats the salty groundwater and turn it into clear portable water. In parallel, solar-powered pumps at boreholes reduce operating costs and strengthen system reliability, while also generating substantial climate benefits.

Delivering reliable supply of water also depends on how the system operates. The project has supported operational improvements within the Water Utilities Corporation, including centralized control centers that enable real-time monitoring and faster response to faults. These improvements help maintain consistent supply across dispersed settlements. Many women are hired as operators, providing job opportunities to local communities. 

As we walked across communities, people shared the same message: the water is reliable and clean, whether used for drinking, household tasks, preparing school meals, or supporting health services in clinics. The project has reached more than 154,000 people across drought-affected communities. Beyond these numbers, it has laid the groundwork for a sustained approach to water security — combining infrastructure, operations, and institutional capacity. In Botswana, one of the most drought-prone countries in the world, these investments have made a difference. Together, they are helping build a more water-secure Botswana. 

As we concluded our visits across project sites, we reflected on the fundamental role of water in changing lives and driving jobs and prosperity in Botswana and beyond. The World Bank Group is taking Water Forward across the world.