UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

Here-below are the programmes and operations of UNDP and key documents:

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:
 

• Democratic Governance

• HIV & AIDS

• Poverty and Food Security

• Energy and Environment

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. The global Report's analytical framework and inclusive approach carry over into regional, national and local Human Development Reports, also supported by UNDP.

In each country office, the UNDP Resident Representative normally also serves as the Resident Coordinator of development activities for the United Nations system as a whole. Through such coordination, UNDP seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and international aid resources.

UNDP in Lesotho
The Kingdom of Lesotho faces a multiple crisis caused by the nexus of HIV&AIDS pandemic, deep-rooted poverty and chronic food insecurity that is undermining past gains in socio-economic and human development, and threatens the very existence of the state and people of Lesotho. Food insecurity and poverty are clearly fuelling the HIV&AIDS crisis, with hunger driving people to increasingly high risk behaviour, greater vulnerability, and in turn, lowering their resistance to infection. Underpinning this mix of challenges, is the opportunity for advocating and supporting responsive governance at all levels of society, in order to provide and enabling environment for sustainable development.
 

Country Office Achievements:

In support of- and collaboration with- its partners, some of the notable accomplishments by the Country Office in 2010 include:

Transformational Governance:

·    UNDP has continued to support mediation efforts surrounding the 2007 elections dispute with both financial and technical assistance. As a significant sign of progress, this has led to the Thaba Bosiu Peace Declaration where, at the cradle of the nation, Political Parties declared their commitment and dedication to peace and stability avoiding the harsh open conflicts of the past

·    Since 2005 UNDP has been providing technical and financial assistance to promote Human Rights and the establishment of a HR Commission. In 2010, for the first time in its existence, Lesotho complied with the ratified international conventions on Human Rights by submitting both the first CEDAW and UPR reports. Even more important, the sixth Constitutional Amendment was presented for first reading in the National Assembly in December which includes the Human Rights Commission Bill. UNDP provided assistance to the drafting of this legislation

Transformation in service delivery:

·    The MCC has a significant health component planned to refurbish 150 clinics upgrading the dwindling health service provision. Given the HR capacity gaps and recognising the importance for the achievement of the MDGs (maternal- and child health are off track), UNDP initiated a joint programme with WHO and UNV, mobilising USAID resources to deploy UNV Doctors in those clinics. In addition to treating over 10,000 patients and infusing high standards of operation, motivation and training of locals, the doctors are contributing to the sustainability of the MCC efforts

·    As part of the decentralisation programme, four community led projects were implemented providing 1148 people with safe drinking water. Further community projects will be implemented based on the lessons learnt of this initial pilot. In addition these pilots are positively influencing the decentralisation policy at the national level; developing district-level capacity for project planning and implementation; and attracting additional Donor support for scaling up (i.e. $11mln from the EU)

·    With only 18% of the population connected to the grid and the mountainous terrain impeding on a rapid expansion, UNDP’s support to national electrification policies and capacity building of the private sector to deliver such has been transformational. In this project, 950 solar systems have been installed in the most remote rural communities increasing the available time for work and study hence improving education and income generating opportunities. Government commitment (inter alia demonstrated by the establishment of a rural electrification fund), private sector capacity (e.g. 5 qualified installers, bank credits) and donor interest (e.g. Japan, MCA) have created the opportunity for nation-wide expansion of this scheme

·    The cleanliness of Maseru City has considerably improved through PPP arrangements for solid waste management incl. grass root women organisations. UNDP provided technical assistance to design this PPP and develop the PPP policies and implementation guidelines to manage it. This pilot project has demonstrated the potential for PPP in service delivery and inspired the establishment of such in other sectors. It now also serves as critical input to a national PPP policy that is under development

·    UNV/UNDP have supported the Ministry of Youth since 2009, to design and implement a National Volunteer Corps that in 2010 deployed over 175 volunteers in private- and public-sector. Youth unemployment (over 30%) is a major issue particularly as the youth out of the tertiary institutions is not considered to have the requisite skills for the job market. The NVC bridges that gap by allowing youth to contribute to development while acquiring additional skills and reducing the chances of them getting into mischievous activity and possibly reducing their vulnerability to HIV&AIDS. At present, over 40% of the volunteers have already found a full time position

Social transformation:

·    UNDP conducted a Human Trafficking rapid assessment in response to anecdotal evidence of a worsening situation during the 2010 World Cup. Advocacy efforts using the results of the study led to awareness raising and the development of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill. The Bill is already ending impunity in this trade as cases are emerging and will be now facing trial against the provisions of the Bill

Programme information
UNDP’s programme of support to the Kingdom of Lesotho for the period 2008 to 2012 ensures an integrated response to these complex and rapidly worsening development challenges. To effectively address the challenge posed by the HIV&AIDS pandemic, UNDP’s efforts will be geared towards Advocacy Networks development for multi-stakeholder transformational leadership and communication as well as corestreaming HIV&AIDS Interventions into development planning instruments and activities of line ministries and local structures.

The environmental challenge will be addressed through strengthening capacity for promoting land management and bio-diversity conservation for sustainable livelihoods. UNDP will also support the design and implementation of national and local strategies for sustainable development within the framework of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Clean energy technologies will be promoted to reduce emissions, through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and technology demonstration. UNDP will enhance its emphasis on a more comprehensive reforestation and soil conservation strategy.

UNDP’s democratic governance programme is focused on strengthening the internal organization of the legislature, with training for parliamentary members and staff for better oversight roles, strengthening national decentralisation strategies as well as supporting public sector reform, transparency and accountability. Under this sub-programme UNDP provides support for strengthening the oversight role of Parliament through capacity development of Portfolio Committees and the Parliamentary Reform Committee. A major challenge is the process of transformation of the public sector to help it meet the development needs of the country and lead to profound change in the culture, structure and decision making systems of the public service in Lesotho.

UNDP ensures that national institutional capacities are strengthened for coordinating more effectively the response to the combined crises of HIV&AIDS, induced food insecurity and chronic poverty. This includes the strengthening of national institutional capacities for implementing activities necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As part of the organization’s “scorekeeper” role to measure the progress towards the achievement of the MDGs, support will continue to be provided for monitoring the goals for the purposes of public advocacy and resource mobilization.

Resources
UNDP is funded from its own regular resources, other United Nations sources of financing, and from bilateral and other external donors. In 2010, of the $ 8,539 443.33 million allocated to UNDP-Lesotho's projects:

• 59.1% from bilateral donors;

• 1.2% from Government cost sharing;

• 11.0% from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

• 25.9% from UNDP's regular resources, BCPR and thematic trust funds;

• 1.2% from other trust funds;and

• 1.6% from other UN agencies.