Maseru, Sept. 09 — The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane held a high-level meeting with the Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Lesotho Mr. John Mosoti to strengthen collaboration on the country’s development priorities.
The meeting served as a platform to review areas of cooperation between the Government of Lesotho and UNFPA, with particular emphasis on preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
The UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Mosoti explained that beyond the census, the discussions extended to key thematic areas where UNFPA has been actively supporting Lesotho. These included the Demographic Dividend Strategy, which seeks to harness the potential of Lesotho’s youthful population for economic growth, as well as Menstrual Health Management, an issue that has direct implications for the empowerment of women and girls.
He added that the talks also centered on the Investment Case for Maternal and Neonatal Health, highlighting the need for increased investment to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. Family planning, the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and the eradication of Child Marriage were also underscored as priority areas requiring sustained attention and coordinated action.
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