District planning workshop tackles maternal health, GBV and Youth

THABA-TSEKA– The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with
the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has brought together District
Administrators and District Economic Planners from across Lesotho for a five-day
workshop aimed at strengthening district planning, budgeting and implementation.
The workshop, which kick-started on Monday and is ongoing until Friday in Thaba
Tseka seeks to improve coordination among districts and ensure that development
plans and budgets respond more effectively to the needs and challenges facing
communities.

Child marriage, adolescent pregnancies and Lesotho’s high maternal mortality are
among the issues receiving attention, with officials stressing the importance of
evidence-based planning and adequately resourced interventions.
The emphasis on evidence-based planning comes at a time when new national data
is highlighting both progress and persistent gaps in addressing gender-based
violence. The 2025 Lesotho GBV Indicators Follow-up Study, launched in August,
found that lifetime GBV among women had declined from 86 percent in 2013 to 66.7
percent in 2025. However, the study also found that 9 in 10 women who experience
intimate partner violence do not report it to the police, pointing to continued gaps in
access to protection and justice.

UNFPA Representative to Lesotho John Kennedy Mosoti said the workshop provides
an opportunity for district officials to share experiences and identify practical ways
of making planning and budgeting more responsive to communities.
He said better use of data and resources is essential to ensuring that development
commitments translate into tangible results.
Mosoti also called for greater investment in young people, saying creating
opportunities for them to develop their talents and realise their potential would
enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“When we plan better, invest smarter and put young people at the centre, we create
pathways for healthier families, stronger communities and a more prosperous
Lesotho,” he said.

Present at the event on Monday, were Thaba-Tseka Member of Parliament (MP)
’Mamamello Holomo and District Administrator Tlali Mphafi. They emphasised the
importance of planning that is informed by the realities communities face.
This workshop is expected to strengthen coordination between district authorities
and planners while promoting a more responsive approach to allocating resources
towards development priorities.