Regional Environment and Health Office

The Southern African Hub

The Regional Environment and Health Office (REHO), the Gaborone Hub, follows ESTH issues in health programs including Avian Influenza, Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR.  The hub covers the following countries:  Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, all of which are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). REHO advocates USG positions in international negotiations with key decision-makers in the Southern African Region; works with U.S. Government environmental, technical, and scientific and health agencies in their efforts in Southern Africa; and supports and implements regional and bilateral environmental programs.

PEPFAR provides funding for technical assistance, consultation, program support and capacity building to the Government of Botswana, NGOs and other partners to achieve sustainable expansion of access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services.

Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH)

REHO is engaged in the following projects:

• Tri-national management of invasive weeds in the Shongwe-Shire-Zambezi Basin.
• Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) program in Botswana.
• Development of the five nation Kavango - Upper Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (KAZA- TFCA).
• CBNRM projects in the Okavango Delta.
• Climate Change and desertification

Contact Information

Regional Environment and Health Officer (REHO)
Ms Victoria O’Connell
Tel: (267) 395-3982, x2257 / 373-2257
Fax: (267) 395-6504
E-mail: O’connellV@state.gov

REHO  Assistant
Ms Phatsimo Lobelo
Tel: (267) 395-3982, x2378 / 373-2378
Fax: (267) 395-6504
Email: LobeloP@states.gov