Botswana has taken a significant step toward strengthening the governance of biological resources with the development of its National Policy on Access to Human Biological Material and Equitable Benefit-Sharing. This initiative, driven by the Ministry of Health (MoH) with support from the WHO Botswana Country Office, addresses critical gaps in managing biological resources, data sharing, and benefit distribution in healthcare and research.
The policy development process comprised three key phases. 

The Initial Framework Development took place on April 18–19, 2024, in Gaborone, where a team of 15 laboratory experts laid the foundation for the framework. This was followed by the Draft Review and Adaptation phase, held from May 12–17, 2024, in Mahalapye, during which 44 participants including representatives from public and private laboratories, academia, and legal experts refined the draft during a five-day workshop. Finally, the Policy Finalization phase occurred on August 19–23, 2024, in Kasane, where a selected group of 25 participants reviewed the draft to ensure alignment with national legislation and international standards. The policy aims to ensure governance and equitable management of biological resources, foster collaboration across sectors, including private and international partners, strengthen biosafety, biosecurity, and benefit-sharing mechanisms. Core topics covered included risk assessment, legal frameworks, data ownership, and monitoring and evaluation.

The policy responds to gaps highlighted during the 2024 Joint External Evaluation, emphasizing the need for a regulatory framework to govern the exchange of biological materials and data among laboratories. It introduces the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) to streamline the transfer of biological samples while protecting provider and recipient rights. Although the policy remains in progress due to competing MoH priorities, it represents a shift from a framework to a comprehensive policy, signaling Botswana’s commitment to global best practices in health governance. This initiative underscores Botswana’s leadership in ensuring ethical and equitable use of biological resources, paving the way for enhanced patient care, research development, and public health emergency preparedness.