ABSTRACT
Innovation and entrepreneurship are the major deriving forces of growth and prosperity, and the core elements of national economic development policies in both developed and developing nations. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) nations are aware of the potential contribution of small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sustainable economic development and their role as means of livelihood for millions of young and innovative Africans. Botswana is a small country located in southern Africa. The core development agenda of Botswana is to enhance gender equity-based economic empowerment of citizens and foster private sector-led and diversified sustainable economic development. Botswana's SMEs have the potential to substitute many of the currently imported consumer goods by producing them locally. Policy formulation and implementation processes are complementary. Effective SME policy can give a solid foundation for successful policy implementation endeavours. The author fully realises that Botswana and other SSA nations have their own SME policy implementation initiatives.
