Every voice matters: Lesotho embraces a participatory planning process backed by regional UN entities to accelerate development efforts

Consulting with an extensive range of partners and stakeholders is of utmost importance for creating an inclusive, integrated, and transformative Cooperation Framework between the UN Country Team and the Government of Lesotho, emphasized UN Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi.

The UN team in Lesotho has embarked on an ambitious and groundbreaking process to develop its new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2024-2029, the fundamental instrument that will guide UN development initiatives carried out by all UN entities at the country level, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing Lesotho's unique challenges.

The new Cooperation Framework aims to better define the “unlockers” for an accelerated progress towards the 2030 Agenda, guided by a participatory and inclusive process to collectively identify the most pressing and critical national development priorities and gaps, as well as related bottlenecks and entry points.

This process follows a comprehensive evaluation of the previous operational framework – known as the UN Development Assistance Framework, which allowed the UN Country Team to assess the UN’s contributions over the past five years in Lesotho and take stock of progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

On 16 March, Ms. Mukwashi and members of the UN Country Team convened a country briefing with Regional Directors of various UN entities from across Eastern and Southern Africa. The virtual meeting discussed progress on the Cooperation Framework's design process, delved into the UN's added value in Lesotho, and bolstered collaboration within the entire UN system at both regional and country levels, fostering a more united and effective response.

To align the UN's joint support and priorities with the needs articulated by the people of Lesotho and detailed in the government's national development plan, the UN team has conducted thorough consultation exercises. These efforts have engaged over 180 partners, including government authorities, civil society groups, the private sector, development partners, and other groups representing women, youth, children, trade unions, and NGOs. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that the UN's assistance is both relevant and effective.

Following in-depth discussions and extensive analysis, three main priorities emerged as "accelerators of the Sustainable Development Goals" in Lesotho: governance, food security, and economic transformation. These key areas were identified as crucial to driving progress and achieving sustainable development in the nation.

"We engaged in comprehensive discussions with the government to identify Lesotho's macro development challenges. By addressing these challenges through a holistic approach, we established three interconnected priorities. This allows almost every UN agency to contribute, significantly enhancing our collective impact," Ms. Mukwashi explained.

Regional Directors recognized the Resident Coordinator's strong leadership and the UN Country Team's collective support in ensuring focused support to national priorities will have a lasting impact on Lesotho’s development trajectory.

Alessandra Casazza, Manager of the UN Development Programme Resilience Hub for Africa, underscored the necessity of focusing on a "resilience-building" Cooperation Framework in light of the multiple interconnected crises confronting the nation, including climate change, economic instability, and social challenges. “The UN Country Team has an ideal setting to explore joint programming options for resilience building and unite all UN capacities to tackle the pressing development issues that Lesotho faces, enhancing our ability to respond effectively,” she said.

Regional Directors urged the UN Country Team members to expand the resilience-building framework beyond climate action, incorporating human development and human rights as enablers to create a more comprehensive and sustainable approach. "Resilience is about climate action, but it also concerns social aspects, cultural identity, and the overall well-being of individuals and communities," explained Lidia Brito, Regional Director for Southern Africa at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Ms. Mukwashi reiterated UN Lesotho's unwavering commitment to strengthening the connection between human and economic development to safeguard the most vulnerable members of society, particularly those who have been disproportionately affected by various challenges.

"Too many people have been left behind economically and socially, and with the impact of the COVID pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine war's impact on food inflation, the distressed development situation in the country has been made worse," she stated. "By focusing on these strategic priorities and transformative actions, we hope to accelerate development and improve the lives of those who have been left behind, helping them to overcome the obstacles they face."

Concluding the engaging dialogue, Eskedar Nega, Deputy Regional Director of the UN Development Coordination Office for Africa, acknowledged the innovative approach used to formulate the strategic priorities. She also appreciated the efforts made by UN Lesotho to understand and adapt their role to the unique circumstances of the country. "In understanding our value proposition from our own perspective versus how the UN is positioned among government counterparts, we can better align our efforts with the specific needs and aspirations of the people of Lesotho," she said.

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This story was written by Irene Gavieiro Agud, Crisis Communications Officer for the Regional Office for Africa of the UN Development Coordination Office, with the support of Reitumetse Russell, Programme Communications and Advocacy Officer for the Resident Coordination Office in Lesotho.