Israel and Botswana have official relations though neither country maintains a formal consulate or embassy in the other.

The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972,[1] broke them off due to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and re-established them in 1993 after Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords.

Despite delays caused by the global financial crisis and challenges in curriculum development, the project gained momentum after Botswana’s education minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, visited Israel and was impressed by BGU’s expertise in desert studies.

Under the agreement, BGU will provide academic content, and Israeli lecturers will contribute to training local staff, fostering knowledge exchange between the two nations.

The collaboration positions BGU as a global leader in desert research while addressing Botswana's need for a specialised science and technology institution.