The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lesotho Resident Representative Ms. Betty Wabunoha, on behalf of UNDP Lesotho welcomed the new United Nations (UN) Lesotho Resident Coordinator (RC) Ms. Amanda Khozi Mukwashi into the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and the UN Lesotho Family.

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Ms. Mukwashi as the UN Resident Coordinator in Lesotho on the 1^st January 2022 to spearhead the United Nations ongoing support to the Government of Lesotho and to lead the UN Lesotho Country Team (UNCT) in ensuring their continued support to the national development priorities in the areas  of:

- Supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and private sector-led job creation;

- Improving the country’s productivity and innovation capacity by strengthening human capital through investments in health and education and training;

- Building enabling infrastructure;

- Strengthening national governance and accountability systems

Ms. Wabunoha confirmed UNDP’s commitment to deliver as part of one UN through its six (6) signature solutions; (poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality) tackling areas where people’s needs are greatest, and UNDP’s capabilities are strongest. In alignment with the Lesotho National Strategic Development Plan (NSDPII 2019 – 2023), the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2019 – 2023), the UNDP Strategic plan 2022 -2023 as well as the country Programme Document (CPD 2019-2023) UNDP Lesotho is committed to building forward better and smarter leaving no one behind through the implementation of its three (3) focus areas in Lesotho: (1). Acceleration of Economic Growth, (2). Sound Environmental Management for Sustainable Development (3). Good Governance and Accountable Institutions.

2022 marks Lesotho’s General Election year and UNDP Lesotho has been assisting in the implementation of the Lesotho National Reforms for the country’s preparedness of the upcoming elections. In June 2021  the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) embarked on a  Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) in response to a request for electoral assistance from the Independent Electoral Commission to “evaluate the political and electoral environment in Lesotho, the legal and institutional framework governing the electoral process as well as the capacity and needs of the various election stakeholders with a view to making recommendations on UN electoral assistance including the parameters, the length of assistance, and modalities that govern such assistance”.

 Ms. Wabunoha assured the Resident Coordinator  that UNDP Lesotho stands to support as the arm of the United Nations in the approaching elections through support to the relevant institutions to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

“UNDP welcomes you to the Kingdom of Lesotho, and we look forward to working with you under your capable leadership towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Lesotho,” said Ms. Wabunoha.