During Round 4 (2008/2009) Afrobarometer Surveys, we took charge of the technical management of both the national sample and the cleaned dataset for Botswana, as well as samples and datasets from all the 20 Round 4 countries. We especially ensured that data was up to the agreed protocol standards, including internal consistency, creating the appropriate dictionary labels, data weighting as well as managing public access to approved datasets.

We worked with the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Botswana (UOB) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), to design, allocate and select nationally representative sample for Botswana. The sample is a random, nationally representative, stratified, area-cluster probability sample of the adult (18 years and over) population across district, urban and rural strata, with +/- 3% margin of error. A few areas were however excluded from the sampling frame, due accessibility reasons. These areas include the Okavango swamps, Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve, Orapa mining town and some of the privately owned farms where permission to interview the workers was deemed difficult to secure. Also the military bases of the Botswana Defence Force located in several districts and persons living in institutions were excluded.

The surveys were conducted in language of respondent’s choice including English or Setswana across the Districts of Barolong, Bobonong, Boteti, Mahalapye, Serowe/Palapye, Tutume, Chobe, Francistown, Gaborone, Ghanzi, Jwaneng, Kgalagadi South, Kgalagadi North, Kgatleng, Kweneng East, Kweneng West, Lobatse, Ngamilang East, Ngamiland West, Ngwaketse/Moshupa, Ngwaketse West, North East, Selibe Phikwe and South East. We directly participated in interviewer training, in-fieldwork supervision and data management.