President Duma Boko of Botswana Joins Global Center on Adaptation Board
G
aborone / Rotterdam, 7 August 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is pleased to welcome Advocate Duma Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana to its Board, bringing to the table a renewed focus on climate justice, sustainable development and homegrown solutions for a continent on the frontline of the climate crisis.
Botswana is already experiencing the sharp edge of climate change. Rising temperatures—above the global average—combined with recurring droughts, declining water tables, and land degradation threaten the country’s key sectors, from agriculture to tourism. In recent years, severe dry spells have triggered food insecurity, stressed water supplies in cities like Gaborone, and intensified the risk of desertification in already arid regions. These impacts, while local in manifestation, reflect a global emergency that demands coordinated, cross-border responses.
President Boko’s leadership is rooted in a strong belief that climate adaptation is not merely a technical challenge—it is a political and economic imperative. His appointment signals Botswana’s growing ambition to contribute to the global adaptation agenda while securing a resilient future for its people.
Advocate Duma Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana said: “Climate change threatens to roll back decades of progress across Africa, disrupting livelihoods, deepening inequality, and undermining the foundations of sustainable development. In Botswana, we have seen firsthand how drought, shifting weather patterns, and water scarcity affect our people, our ecosystems, and our economy. That is why I am honoured to join the Board of the Global Center on Adaptation. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program is a critical platform to mobilize resources, partnerships, and political will needed to scale adaptation solutions that work for Africa. As a country deeply committed to climate resilience and sustainable growth, Botswana stands ready to contribute to this collective effort, to ensure that adaptation is not an afterthought, but a cornerstone of our continent’s development future.”
The GCA Board unites global leaders who share a common mission: to integrate adaptation into core economic and development strategies. As Chair of the GCA Board, H.E. Macky Sall, Fourth President of Senegal, emphasized the critical timing of President Boko’s appointment: “Africa cannot afford to treat adaptation as an option—it is a necessity for survival and prosperity. President Boko brings a principled voice, grounded in experience, that will strengthen the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program as it scales across the continent. Botswana’s proactive stance on resilience, governance, and regional stability makes it an important partner in this collective mission.”
Through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)—a joint initiative with the African Development Bank—the GCA is working to integrate adaptation into every facet of development, from resilient agriculture to youth entrepreneurship. Having already shaped over $17 billion in adaptation-aligned investments, the AAAP is shifting the narrative from vulnerability to opportunity.
“President Boko’s appointment reflects a broader movement among African leaders who are championing adaptation not only as a protective measure, but as a driver of transformation,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “His leadership will help sharpen the focus on national ownership, inclusivity, and investment as we work to close the adaptation finance gap and accelerate progress where it is needed most.”
President Boko joins a diverse and high-level Board of former and current heads of state, ministers, and global leaders from the public sector.
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent. Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and is currently building a new headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This will make GCA the first international organization to maintain dual headquarters in both the Global North and South—underscoring the equal partnership between both regions and recognizing that climate adaptation solutions must be co-designed and co-owned. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China.
