Launched in 2011, the BHP Clinical Capacity Building Initiative is a collaboration between the Botswana Harvard Health Partnership (BHP), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland. The initiative was created to support healthcare capacity building through clinical stewardship, medical education, quality improvement, and research in Botswana. The initiative is supported by three clinical faculty from BIDMC and OHSU who work full-time in Botswana in their respective programs in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthesia & Critical Care, and Internal Medicine.

In collaboration with local partners, the program provides clinical training to University of Botswana medical students, interns, and residents as well as Ministry of Health medical officers, nurses, and other healthcare staff. The program also promotes systems/process improvement through quality improvement and research. In addition, the program regularly provides opportunities for rotating U.S. residents and fellows to participate in clinical, educational, quality improvement, and research efforts. The program began at Scottish Livingstone Hospital and the Kweneng East district, where the Internal Medicine program continues to focus. The Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Anaesthesia & Critical Care programs have since transitioned to the University of Botswana to support residency training programmes there.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, on-site clinical faculty have focused on supporting local clinical capacity through COVID-19 trainings; providing direct clinical care for patients with COVID-19 at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, Princess Marina Hospital, and Scottish Livingstone Hospital; and assisting with development of a new program for management of post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 in Kweneng District.