Bokang Mofoka
A high-level mission from the Adaptation Fund, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is in Lesotho this week to assess progress on a major climate resilience initiative transitioning from its first phase into a second.
The visit, which began on Tuesday and is expected to conclude on Friday, has already highlighted both successes and persistent challenges faced by vulnerable communities benefiting from the project.
The delegation commenced field visits in Mafeteng District, specifically in Makoabating, where they met household beneficiaries of the Initiative for Adaptation to Climate Change (IAcov). The visit provided firsthand insight into how targeted support was helping rural families strengthen their livelihoods in the face of climate change.
One beneficiary, Matumelo Ntsinyi, shared how the project has transformed her family’s agricultural activities, noting that farming had long been their primary source of income.
“We started farming many years ago, and it has always been our way of making a living. That is how the project identified us as potential beneficiaries,” Ms Ntsinyi said.
The project supported the family with farming inputs to improve productivity. Ms Ntsinyi also received a sewing machine, which she has used to establish a free training initiative for young girls and women in her community.
“I currently have 24 students, and none of them pay anything to learn sewing. I want to empower them with skills so they can support themselves.”
However, she noted ongoing challenges, particularly a lack of tools and materials for trainees, which often discouraged participation.
Water scarcity has remained a major constraint for both farming and planned expansion activities, including fish farming.
“Water is our biggest problem. I use public water sources to irrigate my crops, but it is not enough,” she said. “We have started building a dam, but we need support to complete it.”
In Quthing District, at Ha Mohlakoana, another beneficiary, ‘Malebohang Moeketsi, described how the project encouraged community organisation and cooperative farming.
“We started as 103 members, with one person representing each household. We even registered our group as a cooperative,” she said.
She explained that initial participation was high due to financial incentives of M1200 per quarter, but interest declined after the payments stopped.
“Many people joined because of the money, and when it stopped, they lost interest. Now we are only 42 members.”
Ms Moeketsi also highlighted a shift in participation, noting the absence of youth and the limited involvement of men.
“There are no young people, and only two men remain involved,” she said.
Despite this, she praised the project for improving infrastructure, including water systems and solar energy.
“We now have water and solar power, which we use to store and preserve our produce,” she said.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Lesotho Country Director, Anna Mukiibi Bunnya, also welcomed the opportunity to observe the project’s impact on the ground.
“We are excited to see the progress being made on the ground,” she said. “We are working closely with the government to deliver this programme effectively.”
She said WFP aligned its interventions with national priorities and stressed that climate change was a major driver of food insecurity.
“We cannot improve agricultural production without addressing the root causes of climate change,” she said.
Ms Bunnya further linked climate impacts to nutrition challenges, citing high rates of stunting among children under five in districts such as Thaba-Tseka and Mokhotlong.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Thabo Mofosi, called for stronger collaboration at district level to improve the branding and marketability of local produce.
“I encourage District Agricultural Officers to work closely with the ministry so that Basotho products are properly branded and packaged to attract customers,” Mr Mofosi said.
He said the gender dynamics within the project, observing that women were the main drivers of implementation.
“It is remarkable that this project is largely carried out by women, with only two men involved.
“One of the reasons men commit acts of violence against women and children is because they are idle and do nothing.”
He later thanked the Adaptation Fund for its continued support to Lesotho.
“The funding is making a real difference in our communities,” he added.
Head of the Adaptation Fund, Mikko Ollikainen, expressed satisfaction with progress made under the programme, noting that the fund supports more than 100 countries globally.
He confirmed that the first phase of the initiative was implemented over four years with funding of US$10 million (M163 million), while the second phase will run for five years with similar financial support.
“The goal is to help vulnerable communities become more self-reliant,” Mr Ollikainen said.
He also said lessons from Lesotho would inform similar interventions globally.
“What we are doing here is also about learning. We take these experiences and share them globally to improve how we address climate challenges.”
He emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between communities and government ministries.
“This project will continue for several years, and it is important that everyone works hard and benefits from it,” he said.
