MASERU – The World Bank Group this week marked World Bank Group Day in Maseru, reaffirming its development partnership with the kingdom of Lesotho and its commitment to supporting the country’s economic and social priorities.
The commemoration brought together senior government officials, development partners, project beneficiaries and civil society representatives. The event served both as a reflection on ongoing programmes and as a platform to assess whether development interventions are delivering meaningful results on the ground.
Speaking at the event, the World Bank Country Representative to Lesotho, Ms Dinara Djoldosheva, underscored the importance of partnerships in achieving measurable development outcomes.
“This day offers firsthand insights into how development initiatives are transforming lives and helping anchor our work in real community expectations and priorities,” she said.
Djoldosheva noted that engaging directly with beneficiaries allows projects to remain responsive and aligned with the needs of Basotho communities. She emphasised that development must be rooted in lived realities rather than policy frameworks alone.
Also addressing the gathering, the Unktrd Nations Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Ms Amanda KhoziMukwashi, called for deeper collaboration among institutions to advance inclusive and sustainable growth. She stressed that economic expansion must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
“Economic growth must reduce poverty, create jobs and strengthen livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable groups,” she said.
KhoziMukwashi further observed that Lesotho’s development challenges, including unemployment, infrastructure gaps, social protection constraints and climate vulnerability, are interconnected and require coordinated, multi-sectoral responses.
On behalf of government, Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ms ’Malereko Molefi, echoed the call for inclusive development. She said progress should not be measured purely in macroeconomic figures, but in dignity, opportunity and social inclusion.
“Development must be reflected in improved livelihoods and the everyday experiences of our people,” she said, reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with international partners.
World Bank Group Day is observed globally to reflect on the institution’s mission of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. In Lesotho, the event highlighted ongoing programmes across sectors such as infrastructure, social protection, economic reform and climate resilience.
The gathering concluded with renewed pledges from stakeholders to deepen collaboration, improve accountability and ensure that development partnerships translate into sustainable and inclusive growth for the country.
