Lesotho Launches IACoV Phase II to Strengthen Climate Resilience and Food Security

The Government of Lesotho, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), officially launched Phase II of the Improving Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable and Food-Insecure Populations in Lesotho (IACoV II) project, reaffirming a national commitment to strengthen climate resilience and protect food security for the most vulnerable communities.

The launch brought together senior Government officials, development partners, UN agencies, civil society representatives and community stakeholders. The project is implemented by WFP as a Multilateral Implementing Entity, with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition serving as executing entities 

IACoV Phase II is financed through the Adaptation Fund under the climate financing framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The project has secured US$10 million to deepen and scale up adaptation interventions across four highly vulnerable districts: Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Quthing and Thaba-Tseka.

Speaking at the launch, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Dr. Jacqueline Saline Olweya, underscored the urgency of scaling adaptation efforts in a country where rural livelihoods depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture. She noted that climate change is already affecting harvests, incomes and food security, particularly in communities exposed to erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and land degradation.

Recent vulnerability assessments indicate that more than half a million Basotho are projected to face food insecurity during the 2025/2026 consumption year, reinforcing the need for anticipatory and coordinated action.

IACoV Phase II builds directly on the achievements of Phase I, which strengthened national climate information systems, supported climate-smart agriculture and empowered communities with knowledge to manage climate risks.

The second phase will:

• Strengthen institutional capacity to generate more accurate sub-seasonal and seasonal climate forecasts and improve impact-based forecasting
• Scale out anticipatory action and enhance gender-responsive “last mile” climate services
• Deepen awareness on the climate change–food security–gender–nutrition nexus
• Scale up local adaptation actions, including asset creation, ecosystem rehabilitation, income diversification and improved market linkages 

IACoV Phase II adopts a systems-based approach, recognising that climate risks, food systems, gender equality and nutrition outcomes are deeply interconnected. Climate shocks do not affect agriculture alone; they influence household incomes, dietary diversity, water access, health outcomes and social stability. By addressing these linkages holistically, the project strengthens resilience at both institutional and community levels.

The four targeted districts were selected based on their high exposure to drought, soil erosion, erratic rainfall and persistent food insecurity.

• Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing (Southern Lowlands) face recurrent drought, declining rainfall patterns and significant land degradation, all of which undermine agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
• Thaba-Tseka (Highlands) experiences drought, soil erosion and limited access to basic services, compounded by particularly high poverty levels and chronic malnutrition rates.

The project prioritises chronically vulnerable populations, including smallholder farmers, women-headed households, youth, persons with disabilities and communities living in remote rural areas, who face multiple and intersecting climate and socio-economic risks.

A defining feature of IACoV Phase II is its strong emphasis on anticipatory action and forward-looking risk management. Rather than responding only after climate shocks occur, the project strengthens early warning systems, enhances climate forecasting and ensures that climate information informs local planning and agricultural decisions.

As emphasised during the launch, adaptation is not optional for Lesotho. It is essential to protecting development gains, safeguarding vulnerable households and ensuring that climate shocks do not translate into long-term setbacks.

The project also contributes directly to the implementation of Lesotho’s national development priorities and aligns with the UN Lesotho Cooperation Framework 2024–2028, particularly under the pillar focused on sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic transformation.

IACoV Phase II signals a renewed partnership between Government, the World Food Programme, development partners and communities to reduce vulnerability and strengthen preparedness.

Through strengthened institutions, improved climate services, sustainable land management and expanded livelihood opportunities, the project seeks to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable and food-insecure households across Lesotho.

As highlighted at the launch, resilience cannot be built through a single intervention. It requires sustained investment, coordinated implementation and meaningful community participation.

With Phase II now underway, Lesotho takes another important step toward building climate-resilient communities and securing a more food-secure future.