Chief Executive Officer of PSFL Thabo Qhesi
Bereng Mpaki
THE Private Sector Foundation of Lesotho (PSFL) and Indian organisation CUTS International this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at capacitating the private sector to meaningfully contribute to the formulation of development-oriented policies in the country.
PSFL chief executive officer, Thabo Qhesi said in terms of the MoU, CUTS would assume the role of knowledge partner and use its extensive expertise in policy research, advocacy, networking and capacity building on trade, regulations and governance to assist PSFL.
CUTS International was established in 1983 as a voice of the poor to express their development needs and aspirations. It continues to work for consumer empowerment through its rights-based approach and activities for influencing the process and content of inclusive growth and development.
It conducts action (policy) research and evidence-based advocacy for policy and practice changes to bridge the gaps between the core and periphery that are between the state and non-state actors.
Headquartered in Jaipur, India, CUTS has centres in Lusaka (Zambia), Nairobi (Kenya), Accra (Ghana), Hanoi (Vietnam) and Geneva (Switzerland).
“It gives me a great pleasure to inform you that CUTS International and Private Sector Foundation of Lesotho signed a MoU which serves as an enabling document towards establishing and implementing cooperation between the two organisations,” Mr Qhesi said.
“CUTS International will work as a knowledge partner to PSFL to conduct joint activities on evidence-based policy research, policy advocacy, networking and capacity building with regard to trade and regulations including regulatory/competition reforms at the national and regional (Southern African Customs Union) level.”
Some of the areas of cooperation covered by the MoU include joint policy research on national and regional economic policy issues in Lesotho and in other countries in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) as well as the facilitation of joint policy dialogues on national and regional economic policy issues among relevant local and SACU stakeholders.
The two parties also agreed to cooperate in conducting technical assistance and capacity building training programmes on national and regional economic policy issues in Lesotho and in other SACU countries.
They also pledged to jointly fundraise for projects and activities on national and regional economic policy issues in SACU countries.
