Lesotho

Country Profile

Lesotho, commonly referred to as the ‘Mountain Kingdom’ is a small land-locked country completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa.   Lesotho is a poor county, ranking only 165 out of 177 participating countries on the United Nations Human Development Index.

Lesotho has the third highest HIV and AIDS prevalence level (23.2%) in the world, and rates for opportunistic infections such as TB are also high. By the end of 2006, 31% of adults with HIV were receiving anti-retroviral treatment. The government provides a flying doctor service to remote mountain populations.
Lesotho has few natural resources the economy therefore is based on subsistence agriculture, the garment industry contributes to jobs and GDP however the country is heavily reliant on neighbouring South Africa for work and remittances.

Cooperative Situation

There are 850 active cooperatives registered in Lesotho with approximately 10,000 members. The main focus areas are: Agricultural; Multi-purpose; Savings and Credit; Handicraft; Service Providers; Retail and Industrial.
There is a National Federation of Cooperatives in Lesotho; however, it is currently undergoing restructuring. It is anticipated that the culmination of this process with ongoing policy development, will be a revitalised cooperative movement that is contributing to the growth and development of communities.

Challenge Fund

The Challenge Fund facility of CoopAfrica is concerned with three main areas of cooperative development: services, innovation and training. So far, CoopAFRICA held three calls for proposals under this facility for proposals up to USD 50,000 USD. Small grants of up to USD 20,000 are considered and selected throughout the year without a special call.
CoopAFRICA encourages cooperative stakeholders in Lesotho to apply to the Challenge Fund.

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Focal Point