The Government of Lesotho’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) has been endorsed by development partners as the focus for all efforts to help reduce poverty a support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. As part of the monitoring and reporting dimension of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) process, this collaboration has resulted in the preparation of two MDG Status Reports (2003 and 2005).

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 design and conduct of a system of household-based surveys. 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.

The programme is composed of these components:
1. Establishment of a comprehensive monitoring mechanism with clear define data needs and data generation for monitoring development progress.
2. Development and strengthening of the Bureau of Statistics to establish an enhanced and effective statistical system.
3. Preparation and dissemination of the MDG and MD+5 Reports.
 

B. Support to the implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy and support to Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in enhancing coordination

The support to the Ministry focuses on the following:

• Support to Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in systems thinking and effective coordination of the country’s development agenda.

• Preparations for a Round Table Conference on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

• Strengthening national coordination and capacity on trade and development.

• National Human Development Report.