In September 2025, as world leaders gather in New York for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), Botswana finds itself at the centre of an unfolding experiment in health financing. This year’s Assembly is framed by shrinking aid, rising non-communicable diseases, and persistent epidemics problems that expose the fragility of health systems across Africa. Against this backdrop, Botswana has announced a bold and risky innovation: the Unity Healthcare Botswana Partnership Fund I (UHBP I). Conceived in the wake of a public health emergency, the P5 billion fund seeks to pool capital for medicines, consumables, equipment, and other essential assets. The stakes are immense: UHBP I could position Botswana as a continental leader in health financing or risk deepening governance fractures at home.
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