Maseru – In a significant move to bolster child welfare and social services, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF have provided crucial resources to the Government of Lesotho. The Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development (MoGYSD) received two new vehicles, ten laptops, and twenty tablets to support the Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children programme, part of the broader Equitable Lesotho initiative. This contribution aims to enhance the efficiency of social assistance programmes, particularly the Child Grants Programme (CGP).
The official handover ceremony, held at Kick4Life grounds, was graced by the Honourable Minister of Social Development, the EU Ambassador, Her Excellency Paola Amadei, and UNICEF Lesotho Country Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran. Their presence underscored the commitment of all parties to improving the well-being of Lesotho’s most vulnerable children.
The Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children programme, running from 2023 to 2026, focuses on the comprehensive delivery of child welfare services. This phase aims to reduce delivery costs and improve targeting through digital payments and robust data management. With the newly donated vehicles, laptops, and tablets, the MoGYSD can effectively address transport and mobility constraints and upgrade critical systems like the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) and the Management Information System for Social Assistance (MISSA).
NISSA, a web-based repository containing socio-economic data for 488,000 households, was established with EU and UNICEF support over a decade ago. This system is vital for targeting social assistance and ensuring accurate and timely aid delivery.
UNICEF’s Deepak Bhaskaran highlighted the importance of digital transformation in social assistance: “During this phase of our partnership, we are upgrading NISSA to ensure efficient functioning while transitioning beneficiaries to digital payment systems, including mobile payments and banking services. Currently, over 13,000 beneficiaries receive their payments via mobile platforms. Digitalisation offers cost-effectiveness and timely cash delivery.”
EU Ambassador Paola Amadei emphasized the practical benefits, “Digital payments allow beneficiaries, such as single mothers, to spend more time on their occupations instead of traveling long distances for cash subsidies. This not only enhances safety but also results in significant savings for the government by eliminating the need for physical cash distribution. We envision a future where long queues at distribution points are a thing of the past.”
The Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children project represents a collaborative effort between the EU, UNICEF, and the Government of Lesotho. It involves multiple ministries, including Agriculture, Home Affairs, and Natural Resources, and targets several districts and Community Councils, such as Qacha’s Nek and Thaba-Tseka.
Since 2007, the partnership has built a robust social protection system in Lesotho, significantly impacting child welfare through the CGP. To date, around 87,000 children have benefited from cash transfers and essential services like nutrition, water, and child protection.
This latest initiative aims to build on past successes by ensuring that social assistance reaches those in need more effectively and efficiently. By transitioning to digital systems and enhancing data accuracy, the project seeks to provide timely support and improve the overall well-being of Lesotho’s children.
