What You Need to Know
Deepak Bhaskaran, UNICEF’s Country Representative, highlighted the critical role of investing in children’s needs for economic growth during a workshop in Maseru. He emphasized that addressing children’s nutrition, health, and education is essential for national progress. The workshop aimed to educate media on budget processes related to children’s welfare.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. The UNICEF Country Representative, Mr. Deepak Bhaskaran says investment for children remains vital for economic growth of any country. He said this when addressing the media at the one day workshop on Public Finance for Children (PF4C) held in Maseru on Tuesday.
He said the nation can only progress if the needs of children, that include nutrition, health and education amongst others are taken into consideration. He further reiterated that a budget for children will ensure attainment of the said goals hence today’s media workshop.
The UNICEF Representative noted that the analogy of how money is spent is a matter for concern, stating that the media play an important role to make sure that the budget is understandable, especially to communities, translate stories and get feed back as well as identify gaps.
“We all must be held accountable as we make attempts to deliver services pertaining to children, so that the government’s budget makes a difference to the lives of children,” he said.
This workshop comes just after the presentation of the 2026/27 Fiscal Year Budget and UNICEF is now training media to understand budget processes and interpret complex issues for the purposes of the audience. The workshop currently going on is attended by reporters and editors from state and non state media.
Lesotho, like many countries, faces challenges in addressing the needs of its children, which are crucial for sustainable development. Investments in children’s health, education, and nutrition are not only moral imperatives but also essential for economic growth. UNICEF’s initiatives aim to raise awareness and advocate for better budget allocations to support these vital areas, ensuring that children’s rights are prioritized in national policies.
The recent workshop on Public Finance for Children (PF4C) reflects a growing recognition of the importance of involving media in understanding and communicating budgetary issues. By training journalists to interpret complex financial matters, the
