“We Must Create the Future We Want”, young people’s Voices Driving Lesotho’s Development

In October 2025, a group of young Basotho came together to take ownership of the country’s future. Convened and facilitated by the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s office, the National Youth Dialogue on Advancing the SDGs brought together 24 youth representatives from different districts, professions, and advocacy spaces. Their aim was to reflect on Lesotho’s progress following its Third Voluntary National Review, and to contribute concrete recommendations that align with the global Pact for the Future, a commitment to leave no one behind and ensure a peaceful, just, and sustainable world for generations to come. 

During the dialogue, young people critically examined key national challenges, from mental health and gender inequality to unemployment, climate change, and governance. They raised urgent concerns about Lesotho’s high suicide rates, the exclusion of women from land ownership, the absence of financing for youth-led innovation, and the growing impact of environmental degradation. Yet their tone was not of despair, but of responsibility and determination.

 “We as young people have a role to play in the kind of Lesotho we one day would like to see. We cannot wait for change; we must create it, together,” said Mathe Masupha, one of the lead organizers of the dialogue. Her words reflected a shared message from all participants: youth are not asking for permission to lead, they are already leading.

The dialogue truly echoed the spirit of the Pact for the Future, particularly its call to meaningfully involve young people in shaping national and global decisions. Participants proposed the institutionalisation of the National Youth Dialogue as a permanent structure to hold government and partners accountable for SDG progress. They also recommended the establishment of a Youth SDG Fund to finance innovation, entrepreneurship, and community projects driven by young people. 

These recommendations align with the Pact’s pillars on youth and future generations, sustainable development, and global partnerships.

What emerged from the dialogue was not just a list of recommendations, but a vision for a future where young people are trusted as partners in governance, innovation, and nation-building. It showed that the future is not something distant, it is being negotiated now, and the voices of young people must be part of that agreement. With the momentum of this dialogue and the global framework of the Pact for the Future, Lesotho has an opportunity to build a more just, sustainable, and inclusive society, shaped by the very generation that will inherit it.