In its fight against rural poverty, Lesotho is pursuing a policy of decentralisation. Key elements of its development policy, as set out in Vision 2020, are the gradual shift on decision-making to the District and Community Council levels and the improvement of local governance.

German development cooperation supports the implementation of this policy in Lesotho.  Decentralisation has been the focal area for bilateral cooperation since 2002. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has commissioned the coordination of the focal area to GTZ. KfW Entwicklungsbank, the German Development Service (DED) and the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) are all involved.

Improving basic services

With German support, Lesotho has initiated far-reaching reforms. As well as central Government, local Governments on District and Community level are now involved in important decision-making processes. The first local elections were held in 2005. Since then 10 district councils, 128 local councils and one city council have taken up their work. However, they are not yet able to provide adequate services and infrastructure. They lack funding and qualified staff at management level. German development cooperation is supporting the authorities to meet their new responsibilities and expand their capacity to provide services. In the long term, well-functioning administrations in the District and Community Councils will guarantee the provision of basic services for the population.

Solutions based on partnership

In the German-Lesotho Decentralised Rural Development Programme (DRDP), GTZ advised Lesotho on the development of the legal and institutional framework for decentralisation and for the organisation of its first local elections in 2005. Subsequently, the programme supported the country as it established local government – an important step towards local self-administration. GTZ advised the central level on shaping its national decentralisation policy in order to improve the process of coordination between the different levels of government, for example between sector ministries and local governments.

GTZ is also developing capacities at District and Community levels in Lesotho, which will enable them to provide better services through improved human resource management.  It is supporting the local authorities to plan and organise future land use. GTZ is also committed to the country’s fight against HIV and AIDS, for example, supporting the implementation of specific HIV&AIDS prevention measures by the local authorities.