Africa-Press – Lesotho. As a strategy to create employment opportunities, the government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Planning will embark on the new National Strategy Development Plan II (NSDP II) this financial year.
During the aid coordination forum last week, NSDP Coordinator Mr Emmanuel Letete indicated that the NSDP is all about inclusive growth that leaves no one behind.
“We have identified a number of opportunities in a number of sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and creative industries and technology and innovation. Agriculture also has an opportunity to create employment for both skilled and unskilled people,” he added.
Letete noted that unlike the NSDP I, NSDP II will take a different path as it drives for the private sector to be the driving force as far as the economy is concerned as opposed to government.
He also indicated that the NSDP II has priority areas that include strengthening governance and accountability systems. “We also strive for building, enabling infrastructure and enhancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth and private sector led job creation,” he said.
Letete also noted that climate change has been mainstreamed into the NSDP II. However, he indicated some challenges like; resignation of international and local economic advisor which ended up causing a delay in the strategic framework which was supposed to be out in December last year.
“We also foresee other risks such as lack of financing for NSDP II implementation and if the political instability which caught the country during the NSDP I repeat again, it will be a huge blow for the NSDP II,” he said. He also pleaded with all the stakeholders to work together as a team to avoid duplication of projects.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) Ambassador Dr Christian Manah commended the government of Lesotho for maintaining coordination structures as they uphold basic principles of transparency in sharing information and exchanging expertise.
He noted that the EU suspended a number of programmes in Lesotho during the political instability era. He also emphasized the importance of reforms which the government is committed to.
“We sincerely hope the current government will have time to complete its job and its intentions expressed in the NSDP II.
“We support all the stakeholders to move ahead with reforms because they are needed for the growth of economic development,” he said. He continued: “I read somewhere that unemployment in Lesotho is 40% which is alarming to have so many people particularly the youth idling,” he said.
He further stated that Lesotho needs economic development, investments and appropriate environment that is inviting for investors and business in order to get the economy going again.
“To achieve all this reforms needs to be implemented,” Manahl said.
Presenting on Policy Framework for Coordination and Management of Development Cooperation in Lesotho, Ms Ntšiuoa Jaase, Director Aid Coordination noted that the policy aims to improve the effectiveness of development cooperation through greater government ownership and leadership.
“It also accelerate progress towards policy harmonization in Lesotho’s relationships with its development partners,” she said.
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