PO Box 602090, Tholo House, Plot 50668, Fairgrounds, Gaborone, Botswana, Phone: (+267) 3900884, info@satradehub.org

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

October 2013

Nakonde Border Assessment Shows Sustained Improvements By Lawrence Kubanga, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist In September the Southern Africa Trade Hub conducted an assessment of the efficiency of border operations at the Nakonde border post between Zambia and Tanzania, which showed a further reduction in the 2012 border crossing times. The following chart represents our findings, compared with average crossing times at this border in 2011 and 2012. These assessments form part of the Trade Hub’s Coordinated Border Management program, which is designed to encourage better cooperation and coordination among agencies working at the borders, in order to simplify the clearance of goods and reduce the time goods spent at the border. In Southern Africa, cross border trade is hampered by numerous, long and inconsistent clearance processes at border posts and sea ports, contributing to congestion, corruption and high inefficiencies. Consequently, transportation and logistics account for at least 14% of the price of goods in the region: double the global average of 7%. The recent border assessment was conducted to establish current crossing times for commercial goods across Nakonde, to assess progress made in addressing key border challenges and to identify new challenges in the goods clearance chain. On average, 130 loaded import trucks and 70 loaded export trucks cross the Nakonde border every day. Commercial traffic also includes numerous vehicles imported into Zambia and empty trucks returning to base.

0:00:00  

12:00:00  

24:00:00  

36:00:00  

48:00:00  

2011   2012   2013  

30:14:00  

17:23:00   17:12  

44:38:00   43:00:00   41:59:00  

Exports   Imports  Hours  

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Improvements at the border are primarily attributed to improved cooperation between different border agencies at Nakonde and cooperation with Tunduma on the Tanzanian side. To mitigate the fact that the border only allows one-directional traffic while the main building at Nakonde border is being completed, officers on both sides of the border assess the volumes of traffic due to cross and extend working hours accordingly to accommodate them. Although the 2013 improvements might seem marginal, maintaining the significant gains recorded in 2012 has been important. Godwin Punungwe, Director of Trade Facilitation at the Trade Hub explains: “Our target for improvement in Year 3 of the Hub was 15%, but at Nakonde the improvement was 23% this year, which even exceeds the target for improvement for Year 4, which was 20%. Maintaining the

significant improvement achieved in Year 2 and improving it slightly in Year 3 is an achievement in itself. At other borders it has been not uncommon to see improvements one year followed by deterioration of the situation the following year.” Remaining challenges need to be addressed to further reduce border crossing times. These include the limited amount of parking space for commercial vehicles that results in all import and export goods being held outside the border until clearance is complete; the volume of informal trade in restricted and unrestricted goods taking place at the border; and congestion caused by large volumes of pedestrian and other private traffic at the border. The Trade Hub’s assessment also identified some positive developments that are expected to further reduce border crossing times once fully implemented:

• The Zambia Revenue Authority and Tanzania Revenue Authority reached an agreement to extend daily border hours by two hours to cater for an additional number of trucks to cross.

• Zambia will shift to Automated Systems for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World on December 31, 2013 to improve the goods clearance system. This will be followed by the introduction of three central clearance points for all commercial goods in Zambia. Central Clearance will in the medium to long term reduce border crossing time, although in the short term times may increase while staff adjust to the new system.

• A legal instrument is being developed to empower the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) as the lead agency at Zambia’s ports of entry, deputized by Immigration. Effectively replicating CBM, this will empower ZRA to coordinate activities and processes at the border.

• Border agencies at Nakonde will migrate to a new building by February 2014 to create room for two-lane (bidirectional) traffic through the border. With that kind of infrastructure put in place, the border’s day-to-day functions will have major improvements going forward which should be reflected in reduced crossing time at the two borders.

• Three more private parking spaces have been commissioned to supplement the existing dry port. The improvements are primarily driven by the Joint Border Committee (JBC) established through the CBM program consisting of representatives from the public and private sectors involved in customs clearing and border crossing formalities. The Nakonde JBC is implementing a revised action plan, developed with Trade Hub assistance, to sustain improvements and address challenges on an ongoing basis. Helping to Eliminate Aflatoxin in Malawi By Joshua Muradzicua, Groundnuts Value Chain Specialist and Thapelo Manale In partnership with processing company AfriNut, USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub conducted two training sessions in Lilongwe to teach participants from the groundnut processing sector in Malawi important low-cost technology measures for eliminating aflatoxin. The aflatoxin reduction training demonstrated best practices in post-harvest aflatoxin management for use in value-added peanut products. Aflatoxin consumption is a serious health risk, causing stunted growth in children and liver problems. It is estimated that exposure to aflatoxin accounts for approximately 40% of the burden of diseases in

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developing countries, especially in East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Aflatoxin contamination results from poor storage and handling conditions, which produce molds that develop into the toxin. Some African countries attempting to export raw and processed groundnut products to developed countries have suffered detentions of their goods due to high levels of aflatoxin. The restrictions on aflatoxin for export is 4 ppb, but raw groundnut from the region can have up to 15 ppb, more than triple the allowable amount. A total of 43 participants from both public and private sector of the groundnuts processing industry attended the Trade Hub training in Malawi, which will also be held in Zambia and Mozambique. Participants were given pre- and post-training evaluation questions to determine their level of knowledge regarding aflatoxin and to obtain baseline data to assess the value of the training. The training covered methodology, case studies, background information on mycotoxins, and

principles and strategies for mitigation, detoxification and removal. The training was conducted at AfriNut’s processing plant and included lab testing for aflatoxin, data analysis, reporting and follow-up discussion of results. During the training, groundnut samples were collected for aflatoxin analysis at various stages to demonstrate the technology available to eliminate contaminated peanuts. The training required participants to practice the hands-on work themselves: calibrating the roasting equipment, setting parameters for roasting to specific visual colour and quality end points, and conducting mechanical de-skinning techniques. The technology could be applied in household preparations as well. As participant Mercy Butao, Intervention Manager from Malawi Oilseeds Sector Transformation (MOST) shared: “I found it interesting that some of the techniques can even be applied at home for food safety.” African diets use substantial amounts of peanuts, and some households prepare significant amounts at one time to provide a ready supply of peanut butter for various household dishes. Rural households are also exposed to higher levels of aflatoxin by consuming peanut off-grades left over from graded nuts for sale. This significant health concern can be mitigated by using the low cost methods demonstrated at AfriNut, as some of the methods are suitable for household level processing and can be conducted with ordinary kitchen implements such as frying pans and clay pots to roast the nuts to the desired level. De-skinning can be done manually when the nuts are correctly roasted. The methods could be disseminated through all nutrition programs in Africa and present a unique opportunity to make a significant difference in improved health. The Trade Hub’s partnership with AfriNut to provide trainings has proven to be very effective and highly valued by participants. As Henry Gaga, Food Technology Specialist at Technoserve noted: “I just facilitated a national aflatoxin control and testing training in August of this year, and I am scheduled to run regional trainings later this year that will include the blanching knowledge gained from this training.” By increasing the knowledge of experts such as Gaga, the Trade Hub amplifies the value of each training series and helps disseminate these important low-cost techniques more widely throughout the region.

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Exploring Yarn Production: Investment Mission to Mozambique By Mohamed Abou iiana, Ph.D, Senior Textiles/Apparel Advisor and Gina van Schalkwyk A recent trip to Mozambique has confirmed opportunities for investment in cotton yarn production in the Nampula Province. The Southern Africa Trade Hub visited the cities of Nampula and Nacala as part of its efforts to increase investment in the textile and apparel value chain in Southern Africa. The visit was designed to garner greater understanding of the Mozambican government’s strategy to promote investment in the province and assess opportunities for cooperation with USAID’s Trade Hub. In particular, the team analyzed opportunities and challenges facing the establishment of textile manufacturing operations, examining factors such as the availability of raw materials, water and power supply, and related infrastructure. Mozambique’s cotton production and regional demand Nampula Province has a population of 4.6 million people and accounts for approximately 70% of Mozambique’s national cotton production. According to the Mozambique Cotton Institute (IAM), Mozambique has produced an average of 85,000 tons of seed cotton per year over the last decade. Cotton is an important crop for Mozambique’s economy. It is the country’s seventh largest foreign currency earner and stands third among the agricultural commodities, supporting the livelihoods of more than a million rural citizens who earn cash directly from this crop. The government of Mozambique maintains production of cotton as one of its priority sectors, both in terms of public funds investments for research and policy-making, and in policy incentives for investors. At present there are no operational spinning factories in the country, all of Mozambique’s cotton is exported as lint, primarily to India, China and Mauritius. One example of the area’s potential for growth can be seen in the example of Nova Texmoque Lda, based in Nampula. Nova Texmoque is the only operational textile firm in the province; it has dyeing and printing equipment in place and a workforce of 500 people. The company finishes around six million meters of capulana cloth annually (a traditional fabric primarily used as wraps by women) using undyed greige fabric imported from Tanzania, but it has the capacity and equipment to produce 12 million meters of capulana per year. The market for capulana in Mozambique is estimated at 42 million meters annually, the majority of which is imported from Asia. With greater local yarn availability and better enforcement of existing import controls, Nova Texmoque could invest in more fully integrating its factory and increase production levels to the full capacity of 12 million meters per year; doubling the size of its workforce. Local fabric demand extends beyond the popular capulana. Nova Texmoque’s CEO Ajit Kulkarni points out that most cotton yarn counts commonly used for weaving or knitting (in the 16-30 Ne range) can be produced from local cotton. Products like cotton shirts, pants, t-shirts, polo shirts, denim and home textiles are a few examples of what can be produced. Local availability of yarn would also boost plans to revive dormant textile operations across the country such as Riopele, Mundotextil, Mundifios and Crispim Abreu. The most obvious potential market for Mozambican yarn production is Southern Africa, which presently imports most if its yarn from Asia. In 2011, SADC countries imported US$120 million of cotton yarn. Assuming a price of around US$4,000 per ton, SADC annual imports of yarn translates into 30,000 tons of lint cotton. This is roughly equivalent to the amount of cotton lint that the ginneries in Mozambique export in an average year. A bright future for Nacala Over the longer term, investments in spinning capacity are essential for Mozambique to realize the tremendous potential it has to develop a textiles and apparel industry in Nacala. The government of Mozambique has established a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) around Nacala and has attracted many investors undertaking key infrastructure projects to strengthen the Nacala Corridor. A new airport under construction in Nacala is designed to accommodate 500,000 passengers per year as well as 4,600 tons of cargo on 3.5 kilometers of runway with provision for future expansion. US$1.5 billion is also being invested in a new container terminal at Nacala port, which will increase efficiency and capacity, and attract new shipments. Several power generation projects are underway, the first of which is expected to be completed by 2016. A new dam is also under construction, and a rail link is almost completed that will connect the port with suppliers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique through the Nacala Corridor.

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Buoyed by the huge population of Nampula (over 4 million in a country of 24 million) and gas/mining developments to the north, the city of Nacala has become a growth pole in the province and in Mozambique as a whole. Nacala has significant plans for tourism development and is already looking for foreign direct investment in the sector, along with associated infrastructure and service industries. As these infrastructure projects in Nacala are starting to mature, industry has an opportunity to diversify away from construction and into manufacturing. The government of Mozambique is planning to establish a 500-hectare Industrial Free Zone inside the Nacala SEZ, complete with rail links to the port’s container terminal. The size of the available labor force, the plentiful supplies of cotton produced all along the Nacala Corridor (which are currently being exported with no value addition) and the incentives for foreign investors to locate export processing facilities in the planned Industrial Free Zone combine to create an opportunity for the textiles and apparel industry. This powerful investment opportunity warrants further attention and investigation.

Hub Digest

The Hub Digest offers views from a rotating panel of experts on a wide variety of issues related to trade and economic growth in Southern Africa, including trade facilitation tools and approaches; agricultural productivity and improvements especially in the maize, groundnut and soy value chains; developments in the textiles and apparel sector and regarding AGOA and exports; clean energy; enabling environment reform and initiatives; environmental compliance and gender integration.  Write to info@satradehub.org with your suggestion for a topic or question. Or start a conversation via our Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/satradehub. Stimulating Trade through Standards Development By George Makore, Director of Enabling Environment Standards for products and processes help ensure smooth, free, open and fair trade within regions as well as globally. However, Southern Africa currently only enjoys 94 harmonized standards. Compare this to the over 6,770 standards for electro technical products alone in the European Union and it becomes immediately clear that the region can make significantly more progress in this area. Intra-regional trade in the EU was over 60% in 2010 (Eurostat), compared to only 18.5% within SADC in 2009 (www.sadc.int), while Southern Africa’s share of total world trade is less than one percent. This correlation is not incidental. Why Do Standards Matter? Harmonized regional and international standards allow for the development of economies of scale (for research and development, production as well as packaging), reducing cost. They also facilitate easy access to markets by ensuring conformity with consumer expectations. Standards increase compatibility among products and provide better information. Standards promote competition by allowing comparison of prices of similar products, and when standards are applied consumers can have confidence in the quality, safety and health features of the product.

A new airport under construction in Nacala is designed to accommodate 4,600 tons of cargo on 3.5 kilometers of runway.

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The simplest definition of a standard is a document containing a set of rules or guidelines for activities or their results. (www.standardsboostbusiness.com). Generally national standards are developed through the consensus of users by a recognized standards making body. There are product specific standards, e.g. for cement or bread, and system standards, e.g. ISO 9001 for quality management system or ISO 14001 for environmental management system. If a cement standard is not harmonized, and a standard bag of cement in Botswana is 48kg but 50kg in South Africa, or the labeling requirements in the two countries are different, trade between the two countries will be hampered.

Compliance with standards is voluntary except where the standards are written into national legislation, at which point they become mandatory and known as technical regulations. Although compliance with standards is voluntary, non-compliance can severely restrict market access as consumers and buyers will simply not be interested in purchasing your goods, or may require costly convincing of the desirability of your product. Worldwide standards are central to the development and commercialization of new technologies as well as the facilitation of regional and international trade. Over 80% of world merchandise trade is affected by standards.

In the short term, meeting international standards may appear costly and require resources. But in the long-term, the product becomes marketable and more cost-effective to make because it can be produced to exact accurate specification. Without meeting a market’s standards you cannot export. If the European Union standard, for example, requires that a bottle of water contain 750ml, your water has to be this size or you will not be able to sell it to the EU. Besides being a powerful marketing tool for any organization (the seal of a standards body is often accepted by consumers as a clear indication of quality), standards increase access to new markets, help reduce cost and enhance productivity. Effective standardization provides comparative advantage, promotes competitiveness and increases profitability. Why Doesn’t Southern Africa Already Have Harmonized Regional Standards? Given the clear benefits of harmonized standards, why are there fewer than 100 harmonized standards in the Southern African region and many countries with no published standards at all? Although not all countries have published standards, there is no lack of standards in the region. According to the SADC Cooperation in Standardization (SADCSTAN) website, South Africa leads the pack with over 5,000 published product standards, followed by Zimbabwe with over 1,090 standards. Malawi has published 404 standards, Zambia 300, Mauritius 140, Botswana 116 and Mozambique 11 standards. Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland have not yet published any standards. Where standards are in place, they usually differ from one SADC country to another because they have been inherited from different colonial powers or have developed in isolation. Obstacles to nationally published standards include inadequate technical and financial capacity, lack of funding, and insufficient support from relevant stakeholders: particularly the private sector and consumers. The lack of support is primarily due to a lack of awareness of the importance of participating in the standards development process. While there has been marked progress in the development of national standards in most of the SADC countries in recent times, progress with harmonization of standards in the region has been fairly slow. As is the case with national standards development, the most significant obstacle to harmonization of standards throughout the region is cost. The cost of moving from one system to another is not small: consider moving an entire country from square electrical plugs to round ones, for example. This cost has to be shared by government, industry and the public at large, entities that all must be convinced of the benefits of standardization. Given this reality, inertia can easily develop around the issue of standardization, even to

“Behind the scenes, standards make everyday life work: standards help ensure that film to fit our cameras can be purchased anywhere in the world, that a light bulb fits a socket, and plugs for electrical appliances fit outlets.” (www.standardsboostbusiness.com).

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the point of inertia. Towards Harmonized Regional Standards The absence of standards in some countries in Southern Africa creates an opportunity to ensure that new standards are developed in harmony across the region and in line with standards required by important current and future international trading partners. In recognition of the importance of harmonized regional standards to boost intra-regional trade, the SADC Standards body, SADCSTAN, was created in 2011 to promote the coordination of standardization activities and services in the region, with the purpose of achieving harmonization of standards and technical regulations in support of the objectives of the SADC trade protocol (with the exception of legal metrology regulations, handled by SADC Cooperation in Legal Metrology [SADCMEL]). SADCSTAN’s basic premise is that harmonization of standards and technical regulations within SADC will: 1) eradicate Technical Barriers to Trade and encourage a freer flow of goods and services within SADC; 2) boost trade between SADC member states, and 3) keep products that do not comply with SADC standards out of the region. National Standards Bodies make up the membership of SADCSTAN, which is tasked to:

• Promote regional cooperation in the development of harmonized standards and technical regulations;

• Facilitate the exchange of information on existing standards, draft standards and technical regulations among members; and

• Facilitate the adoption of regional standards by member states. SADCSTAN’s work has so far resulted in the harmonization of 94 standards across the SADC region. The body’s efforts are, however, hampered by lack of funding and technical capacity. Standards should Facilitate, not Inhibit Trade As standards are developed and harmonized in Southern Africa, protectionist measures and actions should be avoided. Countries can intentionally use standards to protect local products by setting standards or technical regulations with which imported products will not be able to comply. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (The WTO TBT Agreement) urges that the non-discrimination principle be observed throughout the standards development process to ensure that WTO Members avoid discrimination between imported and locally produced products. As all SADC countries are WTO members (with the exception of Seychelles), the countries of the region are expected to comply with this agreement. In order to facilitate trade flows, governments need effective national standards setting bodies, transparent and participatory standards-setting processes, up-to-date laws and regulations coupled with effective and up-to-date information portals. By encouraging and participating in this process, Southern Africa can help “set the standard” and encourage greater trade throughout the region. USAID Partnership for Trade Facilitation Initiative Support Standards Assistance through the Trade Hub Realizing the ever-increasing importance of standards in facilitating trade, the USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub, with support from USAID Washington’s Partnership for Trade Facilitation (PTF) initiative, is providing Lesotho, Malawi and Zambia with technical assistance and capacity building support on standards. We want to make the standard development process more effective by getting the users of the standards (primarily businesses) involved from the beginning. Private sector involvement in the standards development process is critically important. While governments do make mandatory standards and apply them to their countries, these standards are usually based on existing ones developed by the private sector. It is therefore the private sector that we need to convince first about the crucial importance of standards and the long-term benefits.

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This support will enhance the standards development and technical regulations processes of the three countries and help establish an effective TBT Enquiry Point based on the World Trade Organization (WTO) TBT Agreement and Code of Good Practice, which requires each WTO member to set up a national enquiry point and notification authority. In addition to responding to all enquiries for information concerning state and private regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures, an effective Enquiry Point maintains a reference collection of standards, specifications, test methods, codes and recommended practices for all WTO member countries. Take, for example, a sugarcane manufacturer in Swaziland interested in exporting to the United States. That company can contact their national Enquiry Point to find out about all the technical regulations related to sugar in the U.S. such as pesticide residue limits or labeling in calories as opposed to kilojoules. This is useful information for the company to take into consideration upfront to avoiding unnecessary costs later and to prevent the necessity of further testing upon arrival. An enquiry point would also let you know whether genetically-modified agricultural products would be accepted for import into South Africa (yes) or into Zambia (no). Partnership with NIST and ANSI Under the same PTF facility, the Trade Hub has partnered with the United States’ National Institute on Standards and Technology (NIST) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to provide Lesotho, Malawi and Zambia in particular and the region in general much-needed international support on capacity building and technical assistance on standards. In November 2013, ANSI will visit the region for a needs assessment meeting with the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Standardization (SADCSTAN). The objective of the visit will be for ANSI to understand SADCSTAN’s standards assistance requirements with a view to identify possible areas of cooperation, capacity building and technical assistance. In collaboration with NIST, the Trade Hub is organizing a three-day training on establishing an effective WTO TBT Enquiry and Notification to take place in December 2013 for the above three countries. The training will be for a maximum of 20 participants in each country with participants being drawn from the standards body as well as the private and public sector. In addition to the above, a total of eight designated enquiry point officials from the three national standards bodies will undertake a five-day benchmarking visit to NIST in January 2014 to examine and learn from the functioning of an effective enquiry point. Anticipated Outcome It is expected that the PTF standards assistance will help strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for standards, improve the standards development process and establish an effective TBT enquiry point in the three countries in particular and in the Southern Africa region in general. Assistance to SADCSTAN will result in improved harmonization of standards and technical regulations in the region. George Makore has worked in the corporate communications sector for over 20 years. He joined the Trade Hub on July 30, 2012. George has diplomas in public relations, business management, and communications, a graduate diploma in marketing management, a bachelor of technology degree in marketing, and an MBA from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. In 2007/8 he attended an Advanced Professional Training Program in Germany offered by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) where he did courses in Six Sigma (Green Belt), European Foundation for Quality Management Assessor and ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor training. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of USAID or the Trade Hub.

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Our People

Each month we will introduce you to members of our USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub staff: Brian Glancy, Single Window Advisor Brian Glancy joined the Trade Hub as the Single Window Advisor in April 2013. A graduate of Niagara College of Applied Arts (Law & Security Administration) and Brock University (Public Administration), Brian entered the Public Service of Canada as a Customs Inspector in 1978. After working for more than 27 years with the Canada Border Services Agency, including foreign service assignments in Macedonia, Brian completed his public service career as a Deputy Director for Borders Intelligence in Headquarters. Brian served on various international development projects based in Uganda, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Egypt. From 2005 -2008, Brian was the team leader of the EU-sponsored Trade Enhancement Programme component for Customs Reform in Alexandria, Egypt. From 2008 – 2013, he served as Director for the International Trade / WTO Accession Component on the Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Project where he managed the WTO Accession team's efforts to support Iraq's efforts to join the WTO. He was also involved as senior customs advisor for the USAID Trade project in Baghdad. Brian has extensive experience in the design and development of national programs related to border controls, as well as inspection services via automated and alternate means to provide new services, including brokering, testing, training, evaluation and monitoring services in support of the business mandate. What led you to a career in customs and trade facilitation? I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on the border with the United States. Crossing borders was something I did regularly. So it was a natural fit that my employment aspirations would take me to a public service career with Customs. While working on an overseas assignment for the government of Canada in former Yugoslavia during the post-conflict era, I became initiated into the world of international development through trade. I caught the bug, and began taking leaves of absence from public service to try my hand at international development consulting. My development career started in Uganda, and from there, I had an opportunity to travel and learn about different cultures, ideas and ways of doing business globally. I believed that I could positively contribute to helping others in developing countries to achieve a better standard of living and self-sufficiency, so I chose to continue in international development work. Where is the most interesting place you have lived in your career working overseas and why? Kabul, Afghanistan. A country ravaged by war, and the people who I lived and worked with had seen the worst that mankind can do to itself. Yet, optimism and hope for a better future reigned in all the Afghans with whom I lived and worked. What do you like to do for enjoyment in Gaborone? My time in Gaborone off hours is taken up with socializing with new expat friends, tasting the food and drink of Southern Africa, and learning more about the art, culture, and history of the region. There is so much I want to see and do, and the radar is full with interesting places yet to be explored. What do you tell your government and private sector counterparts are the primary benefits of a National Single Window system? I tell them that the opportunities for future foreign investment will hinge on the adoption of modernized border clearance services. NSW is a key trade facilitation concept. Getting goods to market “faster, cheaper, smarter” dramatically enhances trade in Southern Africa, both regionally and globally. I try to present them with a vision of future trade environment that makes doing business in Southern Africa a preferred choice for investment and a means of improving the standard of living of Southern Africans through increased employment. What is your favorite food or restaurant? Food? I love food. And it shows! I can be found most any day

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on the patio at Linga Longa people-watching while I wait for my chicken/steak/pizza/entrée to arrive. Who is a famous person (living or dead) that you admire and why? Winston Churchill. A man of his time. Not always highly regarded, both pre and post WW II, but a man who kept a nation together during its darkest hours. A bull dog when he had to be, but a man who fully understood the power of will and hope, to persevere no matter the odds, and to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. What is your proudest achievement in your career so far? My proudest achievement was to receive the Governor General of Canada’s UN Peacekeeping Medal for service in former Yugoslavia. When the Governor General presented me with the medal, my mother and my two beautiful daughters were there at my side and very proud of me. Haven’t been able to top that yet! Bogadi Matsetse, Logistics Manager

Bogadi Matsetse has been the Logistics Manager with the Southern Africa Trade Hub since 2010. She has over 20 years’ experience in administrative and management capacities, ten years of which has been with USAID-funded projects. From May 2005–2009, Bogadi served as the Program Coordinator for the previous Trade Hub project. Prior to that, she worked as a Program Assistant for the USAID-funded RAPID (Regional Activity to Promote Integration and Dialogue) project. Bogadi began her career working with the Botswana Parliament as a Parliamentary Reporter, then joined the Southern Africa Centre for Agricultural Research (SACCAR), an organ of SADC and Mascom Wireless. She holds

diplomas from the Botswana Institute of Administration and Commerce (BIAC) in Parliament and Court Reporting, and in Office Administration, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Microsoft software applications from the Institute of Administration Management (IDM) Botswana. What led you to a career in international development? I believe it was sheer luck. Back in the days, after completion of my tertiary education, government-sponsored students were posted to serve in the civil service. My placement was with the National Assembly of Botswana (Parliament), where I had the opportunity to meet and work with high profile parliamentarians, individuals from commonwealth countries and others. When I left the civil service to try other opportunities, I landed a job at SACCAR, a SADC agricultural research office. Most of the work was conducted regionally and with international donor agencies such USAID, SAREC, CIDA, NORAD, this is where I was exposed to international development. What is the most challenging and/or interesting part of your job at the Trade Hub? When the demand for services is high, and the turnaround time for delivery is short. It then becomes empowering and fulfilling to navigate effectively and efficiently through the process and deliver as expected. What do you do for enjoyment in Gaborone? I cherish being at home spending time with family watching soccer games by local and international clubs very much. Other than that, I also attend social events such as family weddings, bridal showers and church events. What have you learned about the region and working with the American government during your time on USAID-funded projects? Because of my job here, I have learned to appreciate diverse cultural backgrounds and to respect the different ways in which we conduct our day-to-day business. I have also been able to build a wide network of contacts with people from the region. It has been a deeply rewarding experience and a great learning path working with the American government on USAID-funded projects; I have progressed from junior positions to more senior posts and appreciate the recognition by those who believed in my potential. These development projects are results- and demand-driven, and you have to adapt quickly to the systems, stay familiar with the policies, and ensure you are compliant with the regulations at all times. What is your favorite food or restaurant? No particular restaurant. The best food for me is a traditional Tswana menu: namely bogobe [sorghum porridge], morogo [cooked greens], and serobe [tripe]. I also like

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spicy aromatic Indian food: topping the list of my favorites is kadhai chicken and biryani. Who is a famous person (living or dead) that you admire and why? I would single out Ben Carson because despite many hurdles, he became the most remarkable pediatric neurosurgeon who saved the lives of children and brought hope where it was lost. His books are motivating, and his childhood background inspiring to us single mothers. To me he is an Angel sent! What is your proudest achievement in your career so far? I must say overseeing and coordinating logistics for the newly-launched Trade Hub of over 20 technical long-term and short-term staff by myself for a period of more than two years (2010-2012), as well as being one of the first recipients of the Trade Hub Star Awards. It was also gratifying to be recognized as one of AECOM’s FO (Field Office) women during the 2011 IWD (International Women’s Day), and to support a team every day that contributes to the development of the region.