Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Champion for Child Protection, has officially launched World Vision International Lesotho’s FY2026–2030 National Strategy. The strategy, themed “Transforming Lives, Empowering Communities with Agile, Low-Cost, High-Impact Programmes,” aims to address socio-economic challenges faced by vulnerable children and families in Lesotho. The Queen commended World Vision for its longstanding contribution to national development and support for vulnerable children and families.
Despite progress achieved through partnerships, many children in Lesotho continue to face challenges such as violence, malnutrition, stunting, and exclusion, particularly those living with disabilities. The Queen noted that the strategy addresses two critical priorities: ending violence against children and improving child health and nutrition. She emphasized the importance of collective ownership, sustained commitment, and measurable results in achieving the strategy’s goals.
The strategy aims to improve the well-being of 650,000 vulnerable children and their families by 2030. Her Majesty called for Government institutions to strengthen child-focused policies, services, and investments. She also urged Parliament to champion legislation, oversight, and resource allocation that advance children’s rights and well-being. Furthermore, she appealed to development partners and funding agencies to sustain and increase investments in evidence-based programmes.
Her Majesty stressed that children must be meaningfully involved in decisions affecting their lives, noting that nothing should be done for children without children. This approach is crucial in ensuring that programmes are effective and responsive to the needs of children. By involving children in decision-making processes, the strategy can be tailored to address their specific needs and concerns.
Minister of Health, Hon. Mamokete Ntšekhe, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to its longstanding partnership with World Vision. She acknowledged the organization’s contribution to strengthening health systems, improving nutrition outcomes, protecting children, and building community resilience. The Minister highlighted the importance of coordinating development partners and aligning their programmes with national priorities.
The Minister stressed that the impact of development programmes should be experienced in villages and households rather than remaining within boardrooms. She underscored the importance of decentralized service delivery through District Health Management Teams, village health workers, and community outreach programmes. This approach can help bring essential health services closer to the people, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The launch of the strategy marks a significant milestone in Lesotho’s efforts to address the socio-economic challenges faced by vulnerable children and families. The strategy’s success will depend on the collective efforts of Government institutions, development partners, and funding agencies. With a focus on agile, low-cost, and high-impact programmes, the strategy has the potential to transform lives and empower communities in Lesotho.
Key points
- The strategy aims to improve the well-being of 650,000 vulnerable children and their families by 2030.
- Her Majesty Queen ‘M’asenate emphasized the importance of involving children in decisions affecting their lives.
- The Minister of Health reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to its partnership with World Vision, highlighting the importance of decentralized service delivery.
