Investment, Climate, Manufacturing, Trade and Financial Services

The cluster on Investment Climate, Manufacturing and Trade & Financial Services contributes to the realization of the National Strategic Development Plan, particularly the objectives to promote accelerated, shared and employment-creating economic growth as well as the promotion of institutions effective for policy formulation, execution and monitoring.  The UN in Lesotho works to facilitate development of sustainable partnerships that promote private-sector participation, diversification of  job sectors and competitive economic development.  It does so by nurturing micro, small and medium-enterprise skills, entrepreneurship development, improved investment climate, and promoting trade integration.

In 2016 the UN achieved significant milestones related to access to finance. The UN provided technical and financial assistance support to the development of a survey on access to finance among MSMEs through the FinScope MSME 2015, and an assessment of business development service providers. The survey was administered on 2,182 households, and compared with the 2011 FinScope survey. The UN supported the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Lesotho which also adopted an M&E framework for financial inclusion, which defines indicators, targets and baselines for consistent progress monitoring and accountability to sectoral targets. The framework is expected to aid measurements of milestones and development in the financial sector, and facilitate industry benchmarking.

Budget (2013-2018): US$ 7,802,704

Mobilized (2013-2016): US$ 4,067,969

Funding Gap (2017-2018): US$ 3,734,735