This paper examines the origins of social work in Botswana. It pays particular attention to the development of social work through the government and local authority programme delivered through the Department of Social and Community Development. Unlike Britain and America where social work had its foundation in the charitable movement government departments were the primary employers of social workers from the outset. This paper traces the significance of the "Food for Work" programme, a United Nations funded drought relief scheme, in setting a "top down" ethos for development, with a primary concern of ensuring some work efforts were given in return for food relief, rather than community development programmes per se. This absence of a grassroots development programme is tempered by a nationwide development of village development committees to ensure local involvement and decision making in development. Despite a history of problems associated with community development and social welfare, the level of service delivery and the infrastructure for local development is commendable and is making its contribution to the national development programme.
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