United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2019-2023 Signing

The Lesotho UNDAF (2019-2023) was signed jointly by the United Nations System in Lesotho and the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho with participation of the Deputy Prime Minister Hounourable Monyane Moleleki, Regional UN Development Group Country Focal Point for Lesotho Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UN Country Team, national and international partners, CSOs, private sector, media and other stakeholders.

Hon. Minister of Development Planning Tlohelang Aumane, the UN Resident Coordinator in Lesotho Salvator Niyonzima, as well as members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) pledged their commitment to the UNDAF by signing the document.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework is a medium-term strategic planning document that was formulated by the UN System in Lesotho as a collective UN vision and response to national development priorities during 2019-2023 among eight Resident UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes – IOM, FAO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO and eighteen Non-Resident Agencies - IAEA, IFAD, ILO, ITC, OCHA, OHCHR, UNCDF, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCTAD, UNECA, UN HABITAT, UNODC, UN WOMEN, UNV, UN World Tourism Organization and World Trade Organization. 

The UNDAF was prepared in close collaboration with the Government of Lesotho and key stakeholders, and informed by the Common Country Analysis, as well as innovative initiatives including foresight, scenario building, public engagement and other processes.

With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core the UNDAF interventions are positioned to support medium-term priorities closely aligned with 2018/19-2022/23 National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II) priorities and long-term aspirations under Agenda 2030, African Union Agenda 2063, Vision 2020 among other global and regional agreements and frameworks. These interlinked priorities will require strengthened UN coherence on multiple fronts and therefore the UN pledges its commitment to the new UNDAF as a means of fostering cooperation, coordination and enhancement of UN coherence in the spirit of Delivering as and ensuring impact of UN’s collective response to the development needs of Lesotho.

The UNDAF will contribute to the achievement of NSDP II through UN interventions in three key priority areas:

1. Accountable Governance, Effective Institutions, Social Cohesion and Inclusion;
2. Sustainable Human Capital Development; and
3. Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth for Poverty Reduction.

It is estimated that over USD 256 million will be needed over the next UNDAF cycle with projected to be available indicatively USD 159 million and a funding gap of USD 97 million.