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UNDP’s support to the Government of Lesotho in Poverty Reduction
area covers planning, policy and programmatic support. The work has
included supporting the Government in, for example, completing the
Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan (PRSP) 2004/05-2006/07, which was
later extended until 2007/08. Currently, UNDP is supporting the
Government in developing a comprehensive National Development Plan (NDP),
which replaces the previously used PRSP. These strategic documents
give the overall direction of all the programming of the UN System
in Lesotho.
Areas of support
A. Strengthening national capacities to monitor poverty reduction
interventions and progress towards the achievement of the MDGs
UNDP supports a programme to strengthen national statistical
capacities for monitoring poverty and progress towards the
achievement of the MDGs. Particularly, the focus is on strengthening
the capacities in the national Bureau of Statistics (BoS) for the
designing and implementing of a National Monitoring and Evaluation
System. It also provides support for the conduct of studies and
reviews aimed at reporting on the status of progress towards the
achievement of the MDGs.
B. Promotion of Youth Employment
The overall objective of the project is to support Ministry of
Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation (MGYSR) to create an
enabling national environment for the promotion of youth employment
and enterprise development to support poverty reduction initiatives
in Lesotho. It aims to open up opportunities for the youth of
Lesotho to take hold of their own futures and positively contribute
to the world they live in through innovative entrepreneurship
endeavors. In 2011 UNDP will continue to closely collaborate with
International Labour Organisation (ILO).
C. Senior Economist Support
This programme is designed to support analysis of economic and
social trends to facilitate evidence based advisory services to the
Government and the UN Country Team on development issues and
policies as well as enhance the policy impact of UNDP programmes and
projects. Past work includes, for example, development of
a model for
assessing the quantitative impact of the global financial and
economic crisis on economic growth and poverty alleviation. Research
has also been undertaken on monitoring the impacts of the shocks
transmitted to the economy through the trade channel on long-term
human development outcomes and poverty. Under this continuous
support it is aimed to develop and recommend policy responses to
mitigate those impacts and risks in the short term as well as of
policies that contribute to making the economy more resilient to
shocks going forward.
D. Support for MDG Achievement
MDG achievement is
a core mandate of the Country office. Work on monitoring the MDGs
includes provision of high-quality development advice to the UNCT in
policy dialogue with the government and other strategic partners on
achievement of the MDGs. It involves evidence based updates on the
status of the MDGs, identifying the challenges and bottlenecks and
priority interventions necessary to achieve the MDGs. Extensive
consultations with the Government, donors, civil society, and the
private sector on the mechanisms to accelerate the progress on the
MDGs are an integral part of the work being carried out in this
area. An acceleration strategy has also been drafted to support and
enhance the achievement of the MDGs by 2015.
E. Economic Growth and Development
The Economic Growth and Development Joint Programme is one of the
four official One UN Joint Programmes, which started in August 2010.
It was developed to answer to the needs of the country in achieving
the MDGs and supports the three other programmes on Maternal Health,
Nutrition and HIV Risk Prevention. The Economic Growth and
Development programme is improving sustainability by building
national and individual capacity to create more jobs and livelihoods
especially for women. UNDP is working closely together with the
three other UN Agencies participating in the Joint Programme:
International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Trade Center
(ITC) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
F. Support for Financial Inclusion in Lesotho
The overall objective of the programme is to improve access to
credit and financial services in urban and rural areas. The specific
focus is on the poor and particularly women, thereby contributing to
the achievement of the MDGs. Support to Financial Inclusion for
Lesotho is a joint programme between UNDP and UNCDF with the
Government of Lesotho and it will be implemented from 2010 to 2012.
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Our current Poverty Reduction and Food Security Projects
Ongoing
projects
Pipeline projects
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