Consultant (Policy analysis towards promotion of diaspora investment and trade in Lesotho)

1. BACKGROUND:

The Government of Lesotho is implementing a joint SDG fund project in collaboration with three UN agencies in Lesotho (IOM, UNDP and UNICEF). The objective of the project is to support the Government of Lesotho to establish a functional integrated Public Finance Management (PFM) ecosystem that contributes to accelerated achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets and the National Strategic Development Plan Phase II (NSDP II). In line with the priorities of the NSDP II, the Joint Programme aims to support the Government of Lesotho to achieve private sector-led economic growth, employment creation and public-private partnerships, by facilitating a conducive policy environment.

The JP will establish an enabling environment to mobilize alternative financing and partnerships for sustainable development. One way to achieve this is by engaging diaspora and leveraging remittances sent by the diaspora. Through this project, IOM will support the government to exploit potential technical and financial resources of the diaspora under output 3.3 (Remittance and diaspora finances are leveraged towards SDG and NSDP II acceleration).

Over the past three years, Government of Lesotho led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations (MOFAIR) has achieved a significant milestone to ensure the system is in place to successfully

engage Basotho diaspora members abroad – untapped resources to contribute to the Lesotho’s NSDP II and SDGs through their human capital, investment, remittance, skills transfer, cultural promotion and tourism promotion. Through the project ‘’Enhancing coordination and strengthening institutional capacity to effectively engage with Basotho diaspora’’ supported by IOM Development Fund (IDF) from 2018-2020, Lesotho has achieved the four key milestones.

1. Through the outreach programme in Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein in South Africa in 2018-2019, Government of Lesotho led by Minister of Foreign Affairs met with over 250 Basotho diaspora members and listened to their needs and expectation.

2. Lesotho has developed National Diaspora Policy which was approved by Cabinet in December 2020 and launched by Prime Minister in May 2021.

3. Basotho Diaspora Association made up of 200 members in over 30 countries have registered in South Africa on 14 May 2021, and the first general election was held in August 2021.

4. The establishment of Diaspora Directorate was supported by the project (i.e. furniture, equipment, computers etc) and the MoFAIR positioned Diaspora Directorate in its ministry’s strategy awaiting approval from the Ministry of Public Services (as of September 2021).