Youth Receives SDG Challenge Prizes

The United Nations in Lesotho in collaboration with the National University of Lesotho and the Ministry of Development Planning awarded the winners of the SDG Challenge Prize competition at the Lehakoe Recreational Center.

The SDG Challenge Prize is an innovative initiative that aimed to promote citizens’ engagement in key development challenges defined by the youth of Lesotho and created innovative solutions in the topics at stake. The key focus areas covered in this competition included SDGs, HIV and AIDS and behaviors of young people, as well as education and unemployment. The SDG Challenge Prize was launched on the 24th November 2016 at the National University of Lesotho.

Dr. Cornelia Atsyor highlighted, that the “SDG Challenge Prize has shown once more that youth engagement is pivotal to sustainable development in Lesotho and the overall success of the SDGs because young people are the future critical thinkers, change-makers, communicators and leaders”.

The competition jury involved representatives from academia, private sector, civil society/youth organizations and UN, and allowed youth with different interests and backgrounds to engage in building partnerships and teams to explore innovative solutions. The best 10 innovative solutions are awarded today with the SDG Challenge Prize consisting of a monetary contribution of US$2,000 to kick-start the initiatives and participate in the entrepreneurial skills and project management training organized with support of the private sector.

Dr. Motšelisi Mokhethi, Dean of NUL Faculty of Social Sciences congratulated the winners for their innovative solutions and efforts made during the competition and the journey ahead. As highlighted by the private sector representative Mr. Stephen Monyamane from Entrepreneurs Network: “Youth are the future thought leaders and change makers. Entrepreneurship is not for someone seeking comfort but requires hard work and commitment for the development of the country”.

As concluded in her remarks, Ms. Mahlape Ramoseme, Director of Department of Policy and Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Development Planning: “The Government of Lesotho is in the process of developing both the next generation of NSDP and the Manpower Policy and Plan, where the innovative strategies will provide an important input in the development agenda and processes”.

The SDG Challenge Prize was also an opportunity to raise awareness around the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, and to urge the youth in Lesotho to be involved in these efforts.

For more information please contact:

Ms. Asel Abdurahmanova, UN Coordination Specialist, (asel.abdurahmanova@one.un.org)

Mr. Mirko Ebelshaeuser, Innovations Officer, (mirko.ebelshaeuser@one.un.org)