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    • During an official visit to Lesotho, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met with His Majesty King Letsie III to discuss expanding the Bank's investments in Lesotho
    • L-R: African Development Bank's Executive Director for Lesotho, Dr. Nomfundo X. Ngwenya; Bank President Akinwumi Adesina; the King of Lesotho, His Majesty King Letsie III; AfDB's Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola
    • L-R: Senior Advisor to the AfDB President for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. Victor Oladokun; AfDB Executive Director for Lesotho, Dr. Nomfundo X. Ngwenya; Bank President Akinwumi Adesina; the King of Lesotho, His Majesty King Letsie III; Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Retselisitsoe Matlanyane
    • During Dr Adesina's visit to Lesotho, Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane presented him with the country's 'Seanamarena' blanket, which kings historically wore
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Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

African Development Bank Group to expand investment in Lesotho to $331 million

“We will continue to support Lesotho very strongly through our new focus on infrastructure for industrial competitiveness" Akinwumi Adesina

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) plans to invest $331 million in key strategic sectors in Lesotho as part of its proposed Country Strategy Paper for 2025-2030 to boost economic growth and industrial competitiveness.  During an official visit to Lesotho -- the first by an African Development Bank President --…

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    • A teacher at the Sekete Primary School using one of the taps installed through the AfDB-Funded Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project’s water and sanitation initiative
    • The Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is connected to the Metolong Dam Water Supply Programme, a collaborative initiative between the government and partners
    • A massive water reservoir constructed as part of the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
    • Community nurse Mots'elisi Makhele stands by the tap that previously served around 2,000 people and indicates the houses now connected to modern facilities constructed through the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
    • A stream that Kesete Village residents relied on for water before modern facilities were constructed through the AfDB-Funded Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
    • Deteriorated sanitation facilities at Hamaja Primary School prior to the intervention
    • New sanitation facilities at Hamaja Primary School built under the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The project delivered more than 266 sanitation facilities for vulnerable households and installed 284 toilets in schools and healthcare facilities
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Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

The Gift of Water: How the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is Transforming Lives

The African Development Bank project transformed the community by providing individual household taps and proper sanitation facilities

"Water is life; when there is no water, it is as if there are no people living." These profound words from 'Masechefo Sechefo, a Community Councilor at Ha Sekete village, capture the essence of existence in rural Lesotho before the African Development Bank's transformative intervention. In a country where water…

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    • From l to r: Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission; Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, National Security and Environment of the Kingdom of Lesotho; Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia; Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group
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Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

Leaders say financing and stronger policies needed to tackle malnutrition affecting more than 80 million children

Some 86 million children below five face various forms of malnutrition, 63 million are stunted, 10 million are overweight and three million are wasted - that is they have low weight for their height

Lesotho, African Union Commission, African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), and partners call for renewed commitment to boost nutrition for Africa’s children; "We have a duty and a responsibility to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Africa by 40% by 2025 - just one year from now" - Adesina. Africa’s children are paying…

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    • Pictured (L-R) at the Progress and Achievements in Addressing Malnutrition event: Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Honorary President of the Sahel and West Africa Club; Dr. Beth Dunford, African Development Bank Vice President; Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane of Lesotho; Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission; Joachim Von Braun, Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Panel and Department Director, University of Bonn; Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin, Minister of Health Federal Republic of Ethiopia; and Sabin Nzanzimana, Minister of Health of Rwanda
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Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

African leaders urge continent to strengthen political will toward achieving continental nutrition targets

“It is unacceptable that we stay silent and indifferent” - King Letsie III, of the Kingdom of Lesotho

Heads of African Union member states have called for more commitment and accountability in Africa’s effort to achieve continental and global goals for nutrition ahead of the 2025 World Health Assembly Nutrition target deadline. The leaders took part in a nutrition-themed side event during the 36th Ordinary Session of the…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

Multinational: African Development Bank approves $86.72 million loan to boost water security and socio-economic development in South Africa and Lesotho

The multi-phase project will provide water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho

The African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB.org) Board of Directors has approved a loan of $86.72 million to co-finance the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The multi-phase project will provide water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho. The project entails harnessing the…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

Lesotho: African Development Fund extends $4.25 million loan to modernize tax collection, boost revenue

The funds will go to support the Supplemental Financing of the Lesotho Tax Modernization Project

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a loan of $4.25 million to the Lesotho Revenue Authority to provide digital tax services, including e-taxation and e-payment, that will broaden the country’s tax base and boost government revenue. The funds, to be sourced from the…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

African Leaders for Nutrition call on leaders to embed nutrition within the Covid-19 response and recovery

The pandemic has created major global health and economic shocks, with unprecedented impacts on people’s health, nutrition and livelihoods

The African Leaders for Nutrition (https://bit.ly/33zUF9k) (ALN) have unveiled a position paper calling upon African Heads of State and Governments to ensure that financing for nutrition is included in their country’s COVID-19 response and recovery plans. The position paper, titled “Embedding Nutrition within the COVID-19 Response and Recovery,” was sent…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

In Lesotho, An African Development Bank project enhances primary and secondary school education - report

The eight-year project focused on improving the quality of primary and secondary instruction and building skills to give young people access to better job opportunities

An education project in Lesotho, financed by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and implemented between 2008 and 2016, has provided the country with new primary and secondary school infrastructure and teacher training to enhance educational quality, according to a recently published report by Bank. The Support to Education Quality Enhancement…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

African Development Bank Regional Economic Outlook 2020: COVID-19 response and economic diversification crucial to growth recovery in Southern Africa, the most affected region

Impact of COVID-19 in South Africa projected to affect rest of Southern African economies

Report recommends inclusive, broad-based and pro-poor policies to address inequality and reduce poverty rates; Impact of COVID-19 in South Africa projected to affect rest of Southern African economies. A higher level of preparedness is urgently needed to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa, including additional resources for…

Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) |

African Development Fund approves COVID-19 Response grants for six Southern African countries and São Tomé & Príncipe

The funds will facilitate the procurement of laboratory and medical supplies

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund on Tuesday approved nearly $8.9 million in grant funding to bolster COVID-19-related control measures in six Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Separately, the Board approved $683,000 in grants to São Tomé & Príncipe, to support the two-island nation’s response to the…