Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) has launched the Small Projects Fund (SPF) project aimed at funding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in remote areas. The project will focus on women and youth owned enterprises in the five districts of Lesotho- Maseru, Mafeteng, Leribe, Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong.
Speaking at the launch last week TRC Small Projects Fund Programme Officer Thato Ramokotjo highlighted that the project is based on Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and small, inexperienced establishments.
“We are going to introduce the project to communities in these five districts and also teach them how to benefit from it,” she said.
She said that the CBOs will be granted M10, 000 to M15, 000 for at least two formations from each district and M15, 000 to M50, 000 to two already existing businesses.
She said the formations will be given 6 months to use the money allocated to them. Ramokotjo added that they are going to do a mini survey in the communities of the five districts chosen before they can start disbursing the grants.
“We are going to issue out a call for submission of proposals that will be from 20th -30th April 2022. Then we will have an assessment made by the Local Approval Committees that will also run the projects in communities.
The winners will also be mentored and will go through capacity building, lobbing and advocacy skills sessions,” she concluded. TRC Executive Director Tsikoane Peshoane indicated that the project should focus more on people in remote areas as they are mostly challenged when it comes to running well established businesses.
He advised project officers to engage with publishers and journalists for information on necessary establishments in the country. He said the project is going to bring a radical change on the lives of Basotho, saying it is important to grand villagers the opportunity to transform their own communities.
The Minister of Small Businesses Development, Cooperatives and Marketing Hon. Machesetsa Mofomobe said the project is a good mitigating initiative amidst the harsh blow on businesses as a result of the Covid-19. He urged stakeholders to assist the government by granting women and youth capital to start their own businesses.
TRC has also introduced a project called Election for Accountability of Covid-19 and democratic transformation of state institutions which will focus on enhancing accountability and greater participation of the citizens in ensuring that there is service delivery within communities.
It will also enable communities to be accountable and to initiate community development activities that will stimulate constructive engagement amongst its members.
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