Africa-Press – Lesotho. The government of Lesotho and United Nations (UN) system in Lesotho signed a medium term strategic planning document that was formulated by the UN system in Lesotho as a collective UN vision and response to national development priorities during 2019-2023 among eight resident UN agencies, funds and programs.
The document named; The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Monyane Moleleki and UN Resident Coordinator in Lesotho Mr. Salvator Niyonzima on Wednesday.
According to Niyonzima, the UNDAF WAS prepared in close collaboration with the government of Lesotho and key stakeholders and informed by the common country analysis, as well as innovative initiatives including foreign, scenario building, public engagement and other processes.
He said with the sustainable development goals at its core, the UNDAF interventions are positioned to support medium-term priorities closely aligned with 2018/19-2022/23 National Strategic Development Plan II priorities and long term aspirations under agenda 2030 and the African union agenda 2063, among other regional and global frameworks.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Prime Minister Dr Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Moleleki emphasized that UN is an important partner for the government of Lesotho and that over the years, the UN system has been instrumental in supporting the economic progress and structural transformation the country has ever seen.
“The UNDAF 2019-2023 marks the next important step in the relationship between the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and UN System.
The new UNDAF will support the joint response of the government of Lesotho and the UN to the national development priorities with the view to make substantial progress towards the global 2030 development agenda and its 17 sustainable development goals,” he said.
He therefore mentioned that the government of Lesotho is delighted to be working in close collaboration with the UN to deliver on its strategic agenda, in particular under the strategic focus of the UN reform and delivering as one.
“I am also pleased to note the highly consultative process that has informed the formulation of this new framework for ongoing strategic and technical partnership between the government of Lesotho and the UN.
“I am looking forward to continuing the engagement with the UN system and to seeing further efforts for coherent, coordinated and joint UN support. My office will continue to provide leadership and support for strategic coordination through the joint UNDAF steering committee,” he added.
