BOCONGO is the national coordinating body for Civil Society in Botswana. It was established in 1995 to coordinate the work of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country.

The government of Botswana, through the National NGO Policy (2012)recognizes the important role played by Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) in national development. The NGO Policy provides for a coordinated approach to the implementation of the national development plans and priorities as well as enhancing communication and partnerships between government and CSOs. BOCONGO has over the past years created a platform for CSOs in Botswana to engage in processes of development and policy formulation

BOCONGO works with NGOs and other stakeholders to strengthen the NGO sector through coordinating the sector’s contributions to the development in country and beyond; delivering capacity development; facilitating platforms for the effective communication between members and key stakeholders; and increasing capacity of members to be effective advocates for policy development both individually and as a sector.

Membership BOCONGO Membership is broad including: umbrella organisations & Networks of NGOs; individual NGOs,Trusts and Community Based Organizations. Membership is open to all registered Nonprofit making organizations. BOCONGO membership is mostly made up of umbrella bodies representing various thematic sectors and various districts around the country

The Government of Botswana, Civil Society Organisations, development agencies are of a collective consensus that the role and set up of BOCONGO is to coordinate NGO’s to better participate in the achievement of National Development Plan and Vision 2036. Recently the private sector through Business Botswana, the Labour Movement and Academia through University of Botswana and the local authorities through Botswana Association of Local Authorities signed Memorandums of Understanding with BOCONGO to support NGOs to meaningfully participate in the national development agenda.

BOCONGO has over 25 years of experience in managing NGOs and implementing projects with NGOs within Botswana and at regional and international level. Furthermore, the council through its members sits in High level coordinating committees and Boards which gives it at a high bargaining power for policy development and review. 

BOCONGO knows and understands the broad civil society space and its challenges, we are thus well placed to strengthen the participation of the sector in realizing inclusive development, through the coordination role.