Closing of the NGO week

His Majesty King Letsie III

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho

Honourable President of Senate

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly

His Lordship the Chief Justice

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister

Honourable members of his Majesty’s Cabinet

Honourable Ministers present

Excellencies Heads of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations

Honourable Members of Parliament

Representatives of civil society organizations and private sector 

“We have every reason to despair, and yet we don’t. Civil society’s resilience, optimism and capacity to act in the face of adversity gives us reason to hope” These words of Dylan Matthews, the Board Chair of Civicus, capture the intrinsic makeup of the heart of civil society across the world today. In the face of multiple challenges, they provide hope through very tangible and concrete actions in communities where the burden of poverty, disease, limited education, violence, drought, floods, unemployment, rising food prices, is felt the most.  Where there is little opportunity, civil society pushes the door a bit wider to ensure that those are most vulnerable are able to find solutions – at last for a little while longer. When I talk about civil society, I go beyond civil society organisations to grassroot movements and the goodwill of members of the community who reach out, be it through volunteering or simply self help initiatives, to put one foot in from of the other and keep moving. 

Thank you Lesotho Council of NGOs for inviting me to the close of the NGO week. The African Union theme on, "Transformation for Sustainable Futures: 2024 AU Year of Education" cannot be fully realised without enabling the role of civil society to be fully functional at all levels of society and particularly at the community levels. I therefore welcome the lens of - Lesotho's Civil Society Advocacy Against Shrinking Civic Space -  to this AU theme as a gateway to discussions on identifying and leveraging opportunities where civil society can make the greatest impact. 

Open civic space is a cornerstone of successful democracies as it ensures that all voices, particularly those of the marginalized, are heard and can actively participate in  providing solutions that are community owned, contributing to policies that are fit for purpose and banking inter-generational progress for the future.

As the  focus is on education—a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, it is my hope that you were able to look at all areas of education, both formal and informal, to identify opportunities where civil society can add value, leveraging your connections to communities (although it is not always the case that civil society organizations are embedded in communities.  As you are well aware, too often, the bigger the Civil society organisation gets, the higher the risk that it will get closer to the donor agenda and weaken its links to the cause and communities, whose lives it purports to work for. For communities to fully benefit from civil society organisations’ knowledge, skills, expertise and other resources, including your positioning of influence, advocacy and privilege, the grounding in communities is a sine qua non for legitimacy of purpose and for your advocacy work around SDGs and leaving no one behind to have a chance to deliver positive impact.     

Three things that I would like to highlight to contribute to your discussion as you close this NGO week: 

• Leveraging the opportunity for advocacy on education and other areas -this increases your space
• Reclaiming the space in implementation to deliver directly to communities as you wok wit development partners
• Focusing and taking advantage of global initiatives

Through digital transformation, global connections mean that the exchange of learning, knowledge, skills and opportunities are closer to us than ever before.  Civil society organisations need to be more strongly organised and coordinated in order to take advantage of global and regional opportunities such as the UN summit of the future. The Summit of the Future, coming in September 2024, presents an additional platform where civil society voices will be key. This summit will not only highlight Lesotho’s progress but also emphasize the critical role of education in achieving sustainable development goals. As Lesotho celebrates 200 years, this is a great importunity to engage with government to add your voice, your knowledge and experiences to the rebirth of the nation. 

It is therefore important for CSOs to continue pushing for practical solutions in education, not just diagnosing problems. As we approach the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, the role of education in national development cannot be overstated. Civil society's proactive engagement in ensuring quality education for all Basotho will be a key determinant of our success.

The need for reform in education is pressing, and the nation looks to you to champion these changes. It is vital that CSOs remain actively involved, not leaving education reforms in the hands of others but ensuring continuous progress and accountability. This commitment must extend to human rights, particularly the need to make education accessible to all, including people with disabilities. By integrating principles of inclusivity and equity into every aspect of educational reform, CSOs can help safeguard the rights of every learner, ensuring that no one is denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. This holistic approach is essential for building a just and equitable society where education serves as a bridge to opportunity for everyone.

As the UN family, we are committed to supporting your efforts. We look forward to fostering further collaborations that enhance the educational outcomes for every Mosotho child and adult, ultimately making Lesotho a better place for all who live here.

With these reflections, I proudly declare the NGO Week officially closed. Let us move forward with unwavering dedication and unity, turning our vision for educational transformation into a reality for the benefit of all in Lesotho.