UNCDF in Lesotho

Financing locally led adaptation

Through LoCAL, UNCDF is helping to realize national development priorities and climate targets at the community level by channeling climate finance to local governments for locally led adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Operational in Lesotho since 2017, LoCAL aims to increase the resilience of communities and local economies through regular, predictable, systemic and verifiable climate finance in support of local climate responses. LoCAL responds to the Paris Agreement and contributes to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly SDG 1, (no poverty); SDG 11, (sustainable cities and communities); and SDG 13, (combating climate change and its impacts) – through concrete action at the local level.

LoCAL activities kicked off with close to US $500,000 in catalytic support from UNCDF, which unlocked close to $2 million from the African Development Bank (project now closed) and GIZ, achieving a leverage ratio of 1:4.

This initiative has resulted in the construction of at least 30 water-related projects including:
• access to drinking water facilities for people and animals,
• wetland demarcation investments and the creation of orchards
• soil conservation using indigenous techniques, such as the planting of native trees and the placing of stone lines to slow water runoff to reduce erosion and increase water absorption.

These investments have strengthened the resilience of over 88,000 people living in ten Community Councils – six in the Thaba Tseka, Mokhotlong, Maseru and Leribe districts and four in the Mohale’s Hoek district.

The LoCAL approach also contributes to the country’s ongoing decentralization objectives with the use of Performance Based Climate Resilient Grants (PBCRGs), which use national fiscal systems to channel climate finance to local authorities for their local level planning and adaptation needs. Capacity building targeting local authority staff, also contributes to the strengthening of skills in climate planning and awareness as well as improving administration processes at the local government level.

Working in partnership on decentralization

UNCDF, in partnership with UNDP and the Government of Lesotho, has also worked on decentralization to drive inclusive and responsive service delivery mechanisms in Lesotho. Decentralization has not always progressed smoothly in the southern African mountain kingdom, despite decentralization being enshrined in the national constitutions since 1993.