Plan research in Botswana.

English is the official government and business language, while Setswana is essential for broad respondent coverage. Instruments normally use English for official review and Setswana for interviews, with Kalanga, Sekgalagadi or other languages considered in specific districts. Back-translation should check idioms and the difference between formal Setswana and everyday speech.

Botswana is urbanizing around Gaborone, Francistown and the eastern corridor, but many people live in villages and cattle-post settlements across large districts. The Kalahari and western areas create long travel distances for small populations. National samples need urban, village and remote-area strata; targeted work should define district and settlement type clearly.

Mobile phone coverage is strong near towns and main roads, making CATI feasible, while online panels skew urban and employed. Face-to-face work needs planning for distance, heat, wildlife areas and access to remote communities. Research involving health, children or government facilities usually needs ethics and ministry clearance. Fieldwork commonly takes two to four weeks.

Fieldwork notes compiled from public sources by Surveysphere Africa; confirmed with our in-country partner before a study starts.