World Vision International Lesotho to Host National Learning Event on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Project

By Reentseng Phephetho, Communications and Digital Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maseru, Lesotho – 25 March 2026 — World Vision Lesotho will convene a National Learning Event to mark the closeout of the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Project, which is set to conclude on 31 March 2026.

Since its inception in September 2024, the GEWE Project has played a significant role in advancing the social and economic empowerment of women and youth across Lesotho. The project has focused on strengthening the inclusion of women and young people in agricultural commercialization, climate resilience initiatives, and efforts to improve national nutrition outcomes.

Over the course of implementation, the project successfully conducted district-level stakeholder engagements across all target districts. These engagements provided a platform to share achievements, reflect on challenges, document lessons learned, and identify emerging good practices. They also highlighted the project’s contribution to increasing participation of women and youth in agricultural value chains and community development processes.

Building on these consultations, the upcoming National Learning Event will bring together key stakeholders from government institutions, development partners, and implementing organizations. The event will provide an opportunity to review overall project progress, showcase key accomplishments, and facilitate dialogue on lessons learned and best practices.

Importantly, the event will also focus on sustainability and transition planning. Discussions will explore how the gains made under the GEWE Project can be sustained and integrated into ongoing national programmes.

Speaking ahead of the event, GEWE Project Coordinator, Mamolleloa, emphasized the importance of consolidating the project’s impact:
“This learning event is not just about reflecting on what has been achieved, but about ensuring that the progress made by women and young people continues beyond the life of the project. We have seen meaningful shifts in participation, confidence, and economic opportunity, and it is critical that these gains are sustained through strong partnerships and national ownership.”

The programme will include presentations on key project results, reflections from implementing partners, and technical discussions on advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and youth inclusion beyond the project lifecycle.

High-level representatives from key institutions are expected to attend, including officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, the Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (BEDCO), and the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II), among others. Their participation will be critical in ensuring that the project’s achievements are consolidated and aligned with national development priorities.

The National Learning Event underscores World Vision Lesotho’s continued commitment to promoting inclusive development and empowering vulnerable communities, particularly women and youth, to build resilient livelihoods.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Reentseng Phephetho
Communications Officer
World Vision Lesotho
Email: Reentseng_phephetho@wvi.org