QACHA’S NEK — The Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MGYSD) introduced the Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project (PSLP) to Heads of Departments (HoDs) on Thursday, highlighting plans to strengthen rural livelihoods and fight poverty.
The five-year project, financed through a World Bank loan, will run until June 2027 and is implemented in partnership with World Vision Lesotho.
Mr. Tlelima Phakisi, PSLP Livelihoods Specialist from MGYSD Headquarters, said the project targets 10,000 households nationwide aged 18 to 60 years with women accounting for at least 50 percent, youth 40 percent, persons with disabilities 2 percent, and men 8 percent.
During Phase 2, 5,000 households across five districts: Qacha’s Nek, Mokhotlong, Butha-Buthe, Maseru, and Thaba-Tseka will benefit, with about 1,000 households per council allocated proportionally based on population.
Each selected household will receive a productive grant of M5,400.
He said the first component of PSLP, the Economic Inclusion Program (EIP), will be implemented in Nts’upe Community Council, identified as one of the areas most affected by poverty and food insecurity.
“Each district targets one council due to financial constraints,” Mr. Phakisi said. He added: “Similar projects have worked well in other countries, and we are already seeing positive signs of progress in Lesotho, despite the challenges.”
He said the EIP aims to improve equity and efficiency of social assistance programs, enabling beneficiaries including recipients of child grants, public assistance, and disability grants to engage in or expand their economic activities. . .
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