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.