By Liapeng Raliengoane
MASERU – Following the Socio-economic analysis and opportunities assessment for Lesotho that was conducted in November and December 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with stakeholders held a validation session of this report last week.
The United Nations Lesotho is developing a new UN Country Framework (UNCF) for the period 2024-2028. As part of this, the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) were commissioned to conduct a socio- economic analysis and opportunities for Lesotho, as one of the preliminary studies to inform the Common Country Analysis (CCA).
This CCA is defined as an independent, impartial, collective assessment and analysis of progress, gaps opportunities and bottlenecks that can be overcome to accelerate efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and long-term development objectives in the country. The analysis also gives direction on the potential role that the United Nations can play in supporting the government to achieve its national development goals.
The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Amanda Khozi Mukwashi disclosed that following this validation session, 8 February will a validation retreat which will be followed by the visioning and strategic prioritization exercise on 9-10 February.
“The purpose of today is to interrogate the report, to ensure national ownership and accuracy of facts and analysis in the report, today’s session is a continuation of that process to validate the findings and recommendations of the report,” she declared.
She highlighted that for a long time, Lesotho’s development challenges have undermined its growth potential and constrained the course to sustainable development. That more than a million Basotho, majority of whom are women and children, have been stuck in the circle of poverty for more than two decades.
“Despite the public investments for development, the disparities between those that have access or exposure and not, to several development opportunities are exacerbating. Despite the history of economic opportunities, the people in the rural areas, the people with disability, children, women and youth have been severally excluded in opportunities for human, economic and social development,” she added.
She said for the UN Cooperation Framework that is responsive and relevant to Lesotho’s context and designing appropriate programmes and strategies requires a holistic understanding of the drivers Lesotho’s long-term development challenges. “This in-depth analysis should help to provide answers to the questions we all have been asking, why Lesotho is consistently ranked lowest and among the low human development, why inequalities for gender, incomes and opportunities are widening, why the country is not progressing out of the Least Developed Countries groups.”
Mukwashi reiterated hope that the policy recommendations out of this analysis will lead to possible solution to overcome Lesotho’s challenges and external shocks such as climate change and extreme weather conditions it experiences.
Among others, on the conclusions and recommendations by the consultants Professor Haroon Akram Lodhi and Dr. Mamello Nchake are as follows:
The five metrics towards socio-economic transformation are sectoral and sub-sectoral improvements in productivity across key economic activities, the rate of growth of the economy be greater than the rate of growth of government borrowing. The rate of growth of the economy be greater than the international interest rates the country faces. Debt servicing as a proportion of exports of goods and services enter a sustained period of decline and the rate of growth of the share of gross national income.
Under addressing climate change and biodiversity loss it states that increased access to tine-saving, climate-responsive and ecologically appropriate agricultural technologies and tools: sustainable use of soil and land, minimizing nutrient losses (increasing biomass waste) and enhancing natural resources that underpin agricultural productivity.
Export oriented manufacturing: development of global value chains in textiles and clothing in the era of Covid-19 and Ukraine-Russia conflict, build up new export capabilities and implementation of sectoral policy reforms.
Tourism development: rehabilitate and improve tourism capacity and infrastructure, conducive policy and regulatory environment, capitalize on natural landscape to attract more tourists. Invest in the development of new and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and facilities (airport, road network).
Education sector: improving productivity by improving the quality of teaching environment, improving the quality of education, teaching environment and curricula reforms. Re-evaluation of social protection system: consider the role of cash transfers in facilitating student retention.
The concluding remarks state that key is government and macroeconomic stability, increased productivity in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, clear opportunities exist for private-sector-led investment to achieve export-oriented-expansion that create jobs, increase income and self-sustaining growth. The government needs to have a clear policy and regulatory environment to facilitate infrastructure investments in public goods.
Accelerated efforts towards helping Lesotho achieve development goals
Liapeng Raliengoane
MASERU – Following the Socio-economic analysis and opportunities assessment for Lesotho that was conducted in November and December 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with stakeholders held a validation session of this report last week.
The United Nations Lesotho is developing a new UN Country Framework (UNCF) for the period 2024-2028. As part of this, the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) were commissioned to conduct a socio- economic analysis and opportunities for Lesotho, as one of the preliminary studies to inform the Common Country Analysis (CCA).
This CCA is defined as an independent, impartial, collective assessment and analysis of progress, gaps opportunities and bottlenecks that can be overcome to accelerate efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and long-term development objectives in the country. The analysis also gives direction on the potential role that the United Nations can play in supporting the government to achieve its national development goals.
The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Amanda Khozi Mukwashi disclosed that following this validation session, 8 February will a validation retreat which will be followed by the visioning and strategic prioritization exercise on 9-10 February.
“The purpose of today is to interrogate the report, to ensure national ownership and accuracy of facts and analysis in the report, today’s session is a continuation of that process to validate the findings and recommendations of the report,” she declared.
She highlighted that for a long time, Lesotho’s development challenges have undermined its growth potential and constrained the course to sustainable development. That more than a million Basotho, majority of whom are women and children, have been stuck in the circle of poverty for more than two decades.
“Despite the public investments for development, the disparities between those that have access or exposure and not, to several development opportunities are exacerbating. Despite the history of economic opportunities, the people in the rural areas, the people with disability, children, women and youth have been severally excluded in opportunities for human, economic and social development,” she added.
She said for the UN Cooperation Framework that is responsive and relevant to Lesotho’s context and designing appropriate programmes and strategies requires a holistic understanding of the drivers Lesotho’s long-term development challenges. “This in-depth analysis should help to provide answers to the questions we all have been asking, why Lesotho is consistently ranked lowest and among the low human development, why inequalities for gender, incomes and opportunities are widening, why the country is not progressing out of the Least Developed Countries groups.”
Mukwashi reiterated hope that the policy recommendations out of this analysis will lead to possible solution to overcome Lesotho’s challenges and external shocks such as climate change and extreme weather conditions it experiences.
Among others, on the conclusions and recommendations by the consultants Professor Haroon Akram Lodhi and Dr. Mamello Nchake are as follows:
The five metrics towards socio-economic transformation are sectoral and sub-sectoral improvements in productivity across key economic activities, the rate of growth of the economy be greater than the rate of growth of government borrowing. The rate of growth of the economy be greater than the international interest rates the country faces. Debt servicing as a proportion of exports of goods and services enter a sustained period of decline and the rate of growth of the share of gross national income.
Under addressing climate change and biodiversity loss it states that increased access to tine-saving, climate-responsive and ecologically appropriate agricultural technologies and tools: sustainable use of soil and land, minimizing nutrient losses (increasing biomass waste) and enhancing natural resources that underpin agricultural productivity.
Export oriented manufacturing: development of global value chains in textiles and clothing in the era of Covid-19 and Ukraine-Russia conflict, build up new export capabilities and implementation of sectoral policy reforms.
Tourism development: rehabilitate and improve tourism capacity and infrastructure, conducive policy and regulatory environment, capitalize on natural landscape to attract more tourists. Invest in the development of new and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and facilities (airport, road network).
Education sector: improving productivity by improving the quality of teaching environment, improving the quality of education, teaching environment and curricula reforms. Re-evaluation of social protection system: consider the role of cash transfers in facilitating student retention.
The concluding remarks state that key is government and macroeconomic stability, increased productivity in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, clear opportunities exist for private-sector-led investment to achieve export-oriented-expansion that create jobs, increase income and self-sustaining growth. The government needs to have a clear policy and regulatory environment to facilitate infrastructure investments in public goods.