Botswana Innovation Fund Complaints Procedure
Introduction
The role of Botswana Innovation Fund is to achieve the BIH priorities for development of new and innovative technologies nationally.
In order to ensure administrative transparency, BIH has a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory complaints handling procedure for competition applicants and grants. We take our brand very serious and will not jeopardize this by negligence on our part.
This page provides guidance to participants involved in competitions or grant processes who may wish to lodge a complaint.
Process for Lodgement
If you wish to lodge a dispute or complaint about a competition or grant/funding process, you should do so by advising in writing the Botswana Innovation Fund Committee. You should provide details of the basis upon which the dispute or complaint is being lodged, including:
- a clear statement regarding what you consider was defective in the competition or grant process;
- copies of, or references to, information to support the complaint; and
- a statement regarding what you wish to achieve as an outcome from the complaint process.
Process for Assessment
The Innovation Fund Administration will acknowledge receipt of the complaint in writing within 10 working days of receiving it. If further correspondence or information is required, you will be given no less than 15 working days to respond to any communication from the BIH unless the matter is urgent. The BIF Fund Committee will then attempt to resolve the matter.
The BIF Committee will advise you of the decision in writing within a reasonable timeframe, which will usually be within 30 working days of receiving all written correspondence relating to a complaint.
Process for Review
If you are not satisfied with the BIF Committee’s response then you may seek an independent internal review of the complaint by the Botswana Innovation Hub Board.
The Botswana Innovation Hub Board Secretariat will promptly notify you in writing to advise of their appointment and the expected time frame for making the internal review decision. The notice will also include a request for any further information that may be required to conduct the review. You will be given no less than 15 working days to provide any further information unless the matter is urgent.
The BIH Board Secretariat will notify you in writing of the decision within the timeframe specified in the original notice.
Ombudsman
If you have gone through the complaints procedure and remain dissatisfied with the outcome you have the right to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman). You will have to make your complaint to the Ombudsman through your local Member of Parliament.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may wish to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.