The Government of Lesotho, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), officially launched Phase II of the Improving Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable and Food-Insecure Populations in Lesotho (IACoV II) project, reaffirming a national commitment to strengthen climate resilience and protect food security for the most vulnerable communities.The launch brought together senior Government officials, development partners, UN agencies, civil society representatives and community stakeholders. The project is implemented by WFP as a Multilateral Implementing Entity, with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition serving as executing entities IACoV Phase II is financed through the Adaptation Fund under the climate financing framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The project has secured US$10 million to deepen and scale up adaptation interventions across four highly vulnerable districts: Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Quthing and Thaba-Tseka.Speaking at the launch, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Dr. Jacqueline Saline Olweya, underscored the urgency of scaling adaptation efforts in a country where rural livelihoods depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture. She noted that climate change is already affecting harvests, incomes and food security, particularly in communities exposed to erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and land degradation.Recent vulnerability assessments indicate that more than half a million Basotho are projected to face food insecurity during the 2025/2026 consumption year, reinforcing the need for anticipatory and coordinated action.IACoV Phase II builds directly on the achievements of Phase I, which strengthened national climate information systems, supported climate-smart agriculture and empowered communities with knowledge to manage climate risks.  The second phase will:Strengthen institutional capacity to generate more accurate sub-seasonal and seasonal climate forecasts and improve impact-based forecastingScale out anticipatory action and enhance gender-responsive “last mile” climate servicesDeepen awareness on the climate change–food security–gender–nutrition nexusScale up local adaptation actions, including asset creation, ecosystem rehabilitation, income diversification and improved market linkages IACoV Phase II adopts a systems-based approach, recognising that climate risks, food systems, gender equality and nutrition outcomes are deeply interconnected. Climate shocks do not affect agriculture alone; they influence household incomes, dietary diversity, water access, health outcomes and social stability. By addressing these linkages holistically, the project strengthens resilience at both institutional and community levels.The four targeted districts were selected based on their high exposure to drought, soil erosion, erratic rainfall and persistent food insecurity.Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing (Southern Lowlands) face recurrent drought, declining rainfall patterns and significant land degradation, all of which undermine agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.Thaba-Tseka (Highlands) experiences drought, soil erosion and limited access to basic services, compounded by particularly high poverty levels and chronic malnutrition rates.The project prioritises chronically vulnerable populations, including smallholder farmers, women-headed households, youth, persons with disabilities and communities living in remote rural areas, who face multiple and intersecting climate and socio-economic risks.A defining feature of IACoV Phase II is its strong emphasis on anticipatory action and forward-looking risk management. Rather than responding only after climate shocks occur, the project strengthens early warning systems, enhances climate forecasting and ensures that climate information informs local planning and agricultural decisions.As emphasised during the launch, adaptation is not optional for Lesotho. It is essential to protecting development gains, safeguarding vulnerable households and ensuring that climate shocks do not translate into long-term setbacks.The project also contributes directly to the implementation of Lesotho’s national development priorities and aligns with the UN Lesotho Cooperation Framework 2024–2028, particularly under the pillar focused on sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic transformation.IACoV Phase II signals a renewed partnership between Government, the World Food Programme, development partners and communities to reduce vulnerability and strengthen preparedness.Through strengthened institutions, improved climate services, sustainable land management and expanded livelihood opportunities, the project seeks to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable and food-insecure households across Lesotho.As highlighted at the launch, resilience cannot be built through a single intervention. It requires sustained investment, coordinated implementation and meaningful community participation.With Phase II now underway, Lesotho takes another important step toward building climate-resilient communities and securing a more food-secure future. 

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, reflects on how a national response to gender-based violence (GBV) is strengthening protection and expanding support for survivors across the country. Drawing on the establishment of Lesotho’s first integrated multipurpose centre for survivors, she shares five lessons on leadership, partnership and coordination, highlighting how collective action and decisive leadership can translate commitment into dignity, safety and long-term resilience for women and children. When I first arrived in Lesotho, I was briefed on the depth of the gender-based violence crisis. The statistics were sobering, but it was the countless untold stories behind them that weighed most heavily on my conscience. Behind every number was someone whose safety, dignity or future had been compromised. And the scale of those numbers is hard to ignore.GBV in Lesotho is a human rights emergencyLesotho faces one of the highest rates of GBV globally. About 86 per cent of women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and GBV costs the country more than 5.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually. That is comparable to removing almost all annual spending on primary and secondary education in Lesotho. This gap could undermine multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from poverty reduction and health to justice and gender equality.An additional concern was how few safe options existed for those trying to escape violence. When the roof and ceiling of the only fully functioning shelter in Maseru collapsed in 2023, national capacity dropped to fewer than 15 survivors.  The UN stepped in to support by developing Lesotho’s first integrated Multipurpose Centre for survivors of gender-based violence. The journey toward establishing this Centre offers four lessons about leadership, partnership and the impact the UN can have when it works as one with national partners. 1. Crises can lead to whole-of-society actionThe collapse of the old shelter exposed how fragile the protection system was, but it also triggered a unified national response. Vodacom Foundation reached out immediately, and I convened a multisector meeting that brought government, private sector, civil society and the UN together. The Cabinet quickly approved the repurposing of an abandoned compound. Public Works sent engineers, the Defence Force provided labour, ministries aligned services, Her Majesty the Queen mobilised philanthropists, private companies supplied materials and civil society offered legal and psychosocial support. What could have deepened vulnerability instead sparked a whole-of-society effort far stronger than any single actor could have achieved.“This experience reinforced a simple truth: leadership is not only about money; it is about vision, courage and refusing to remain silent in the face of injustice.” — Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, UN Resident Coordinator, Lesotho2. The Resident Coordinator System makes coordination actionableThe reformed RC system enabled the UN to respond as one team. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) helped make sure the Centre was built around the needs and dignity of survivors. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) improved child-friendly spaces and worked with the government to integrate the early learning centre into the national system. The World Food Programme (WFP) secured meals for the children. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS helped establish the Health Centre and link it with government medical staff. It was collaboration, strengthened by a solid government partnership, that drove the project forward.3. Innovation can be straightforward, practical and scalableWe often assume that innovation must involve high-tech solutions, but real change can be rooted in pragmatic, community-driven models. With UNFPA’s support, an Adopt-a-House model was developed to address funding constraints. Partners could adopt a house based on their financial capacity, and the Vodacom Foundation, for example, financed the first two houses. We made progress without waiting for considerable, consolidated funding and created a transparent, inclusive and nationally owned financing model suited to a small, landlocked economy. 4. Safety must be linked to economic powerProtection is vital, but recovery also requires independence. That is why the Centre combines safe housing, health care, psychosocial and legal support with a skills and innovation hub. Economic dependence often forces survivors back into abusive environments, so digital skills, vocational training and access to work are central. One young survivor from the old shelter used her training to secure a job and support her siblings, showing what stability can restore. The aim is long-term resilience, not temporary refuge.By rallying around a common goal and turning a forgotten site into a centre for survivors, Lesotho is giving hope a concrete home. The Centre will soon host around 100 women and children, significantly expanding Lesotho’s national protection capacity. The work is not yet finished, but the commitment behind it is incredibly powerful.In a time of many crises, giving hope a home matters. Hope links belief, knowledge, emotion and action in ways few other forces do.

On 23 October 2025, the Kingdom of Lesotho joined the world in commemorating United Nations Day, marking 80 years since the founding of the UN. The celebrations reflected the enduring partnership between the Government of Lesotho and the United Nations, and a shared determination to build a world where peace, dignity, and opportunity are within reach for all.As part of the day’s activities in Maseru, the UN organised a full day public exhibition, where agencies showcased their ongoing work and contributions to Lesotho’s national development agenda. The exhibition was officially attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Honourable Lejone Mpotjoana, alongside members of the UN Country Team and development partners.The exhibition provided members of the public an opportunity to engage directly with the UN and learn more about how agency development interventions are supporting national priorities in the delivery of healthcare, education for all, and building climate resilient systems and programme, strengthening governance, and promoting gender equality, demonstrating how global cooperation is translating into tangible progress in communities across Lesotho. The official commemoration ceremony was graced The Right Honourable Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Cabinet Ministers, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, and representatives of civil society and the UN Country Team.In his keynote address, The Right Honourable Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane reaffirmed Lesotho’s steadfast support for the ideals of the United Nations and for multilateralism as a pillar of global stability.He said that the UN is “a central pillar of the multilateral system,” describing it as the most effective mechanism through which small nations can make their voices heard and amplify their development potential.The Prime Minister also celebrated Lesotho’s election as Vice-President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, calling it a proud moment that underscores the nation’s commitment to inclusivity, good governance, and international cooperation.“Let us move forward together as government, leaders, communities, business, development partners, and the UN, hand in hand, heart to heart. From the challenges of today, a new era of hope and equality can be born,” he said. In her powerful address, UN Resident Coordinator Amanda Khozi Mukwashi reminded the audience that, at its heart, the United Nations is about people, not institutions or resolutions.“Every year on United Nations Day, we pause to reflect, not only on what the UN has achieved, but on what it truly stands for. For many, the United Nations may seem distant, something they hear about in the news, through meetings and resolutions that feel far removed from daily life. But at its heart, the UN is about people.”Also reaffirming the UN’s nearly sixty-year partnership with Lesotho, she concluded:“Let us continue building a Lesotho where every person can live with dignity and hope. And let us show what is possible when we the peoples, from every mountain, every village, every corner of this earth, choose to act as one. Because when we do, we carry forward not just the work of the United Nations, we carry forward the promise of humanity itself.”A highlight of the programme was the high-level panel discussion titled “Multilateralism and Lesotho: A Pathway to Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”Moderated by WHO Country Director, Dr Innocent Nuwagira, the panel brought together Hon. Dr Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, Mr Joshua Setipa, and Mr Kelebone Maope, who reflected on how multilateralism and strong partnerships remain central to Lesotho’s pursuit of peace, inclusive development, and economic transformation. This year’s UN Day was also used as a platform for recognising initiatives at community level that are supporting national efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ten community-based initiatives across Lesotho’s districts, with projects in different sectors, were recognised and presented with recognition certificates by the Resident Coordinator, Ms Amanda Khozi Mukwashi and the RH the Prime Minister . The top 10 initiatives which were recognised:2Gether4HIM (Health and Interventions for Men)Protection and Sustainable Utilisation of Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources of TsatsaneAtlehang Maphiri Nutrition ClubM-Mama Emergency Transportation ServicesDigitising Community Health Services to Strengthen Primary Health CarePlant One Tree InitiativeMetsi-A-Lesotho Rural WASH School ActivationImproving Quality of Maternal and Neonatal Health ServicesHerd Boys ProgrammeThese initiatives demonstrate the creativity, resilience, and determination of Basotho communities the very qualities that drive the SGS at the grassroots level. During the same event, the “Lesotho 200 Years” Coffee Table Book a visually compelling publication that chronicles the United Nations’ partnership with the Government and people of Lesotho over the years was launched.The book captures powerful human-interest stories, photographs, and milestones from across UN agencies, illustrating how collaboration has shaped national progress. Featuring augmented reality (AR) technology, the publication allows readers to scan pages and view embedded videos that bring the stories to life.Ms. Mukwashi officially presented the first copy to the Prime Minister, symbolising the shared journey and deep cooperation between Lesotho and the United Nations.As Lesotho celebrates 200 years of nationhood and the UN marks 80 years of service to humanity, the partnership between the two stands as a testament to what true multilateralism can achieve.From crisis response and governance reforms to youth empowerment and climate resilience, the United Nations continues to work hand-in-hand with the Government and people of Lesotho to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.The 2025 UN Day celebrations were not just a commemoration of history, they were a reaffirmation of hope, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Together, Lesotho and the United Nations are proving that lasting progress begins where global vision meets local action.

In October 2025, a group of young Basotho came together to take ownership of the country’s future. Convened and facilitated by the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s office, the National Youth Dialogue on Advancing the SDGs brought together 24 youth representatives from different districts, professions, and advocacy spaces. Their aim was to reflect on Lesotho’s progress following its Third Voluntary National Review, and to contribute concrete recommendations that align with the global Pact for the Future, a commitment to leave no one behind and ensure a peaceful, just, and sustainable world for generations to come. During the dialogue, young people critically examined key national challenges, from mental health and gender inequality to unemployment, climate change, and governance. They raised urgent concerns about Lesotho’s high suicide rates, the exclusion of women from land ownership, the absence of financing for youth-led innovation, and the growing impact of environmental degradation. Yet their tone was not of despair, but of responsibility and determination. “We as young people have a role to play in the kind of Lesotho we one day would like to see. We cannot wait for change; we must create it, together,” said Mathe Masupha, one of the lead organizers of the dialogue. Her words reflected a shared message from all participants: youth are not asking for permission to lead, they are already leading.The dialogue truly echoed the spirit of the Pact for the Future, particularly its call to meaningfully involve young people in shaping national and global decisions. Participants proposed the institutionalisation of the National Youth Dialogue as a permanent structure to hold government and partners accountable for SDG progress. They also recommended the establishment of a Youth SDG Fund to finance innovation, entrepreneurship, and community projects driven by young people. These recommendations align with the Pact’s pillars on youth and future generations, sustainable development, and global partnerships.What emerged from the dialogue was not just a list of recommendations, but a vision for a future where young people are trusted as partners in governance, innovation, and nation-building. It showed that the future is not something distant, it is being negotiated now, and the voices of young people must be part of that agreement. With the momentum of this dialogue and the global framework of the Pact for the Future, Lesotho has an opportunity to build a more just, sustainable, and inclusive society, shaped by the very generation that will inherit it.