Maseru – The European Union has reaffirmed its long standing involvement in Lesotho’s water development efforts during the Water Sector Coordination Forum hosted this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Maseru.
The forum brought together government officials, development partners, international and local non governmental organisations, academic institutions and other stakeholders from across Lesotho’s water sector to review progress and align efforts aimed at expanding access to clean water and sanitation.
Held under the theme Strengthening coordination and visibility of non state actors in the water sector, the meeting focused on improving cooperation among institutions involved in water, sanitation and hygiene delivery, while also making ongoing interventions more visible to the public and policy makers.
The European Union, which has partnered with the Kingdom of Lesotho for close to five decades, outlined its continued support through a range of water focused programmes implemented with national and international partners. These include the Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project Phase II, ReNOKA, WaterNet, UNICEF Lesotho and the National University of Lesotho.
According to the EU delegation, these initiatives are directed at increasing access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene services, restoring and preserving water resources, supporting institutional reforms and policy development, and building capacity for a new generation of water sector professionals.
The forum also served as a platform for development partners and non state actors to showcase projects already underway and to discuss challenges affecting service delivery, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
The EU said its support for non state actors remains a priority, noting that it provides significant grant funding to organisations working in water, energy, human rights and advocacy. In August 2025, the bloc conducted a mapping exercise which identified 72 non state actors active in these sectors across Lesotho, information that is now being used to improve coordination and planning.
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