IOM Lesotho Office Newsletter: September - October 2020

On 16 October 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations (MOFAIR) hosted Ministers and Principal Secretaries from relevant ministries for a briefing on the achievement of diaspora engagement and presentation of the draft Lesotho National Diaspora Policy.Present at the meeting were Ministers of Home Affairs, Tourism, Social Development, Labour and Employment, and Foreign Affairs and International Relations who was the host. At present, the draft policy is going through the final validation by Basotho diaspora in countries from the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and Republic of South Africa (RSA) where most Basotho reside and other countries in Africa. MoFAIR will incorporate the inputs from diaspora which will be submitted by the end of October 2020. The ministers concur that diaspora policy is an important guiding framework to position Basotho diaspora as a key stakeholder and strategic partner in the development and economic growth of Lesotho, particularly considering the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-economic situation of the country.