WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative in Lesotho

The WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative in Lesotho is a national programme implemented by the BAM Group Foundation (BGF) with support from UN Women under the WYDE Women’s Leadership Programme, funded by the European Union. The initiative aims to strengthen the participation of women, especially young women and women with disabilities, in leadership, governance, and political decision-making across Lesotho.

Purpose

The project seeks to:

Empower women with leadership and governance skills.
Increase women’s representation in political and public leadership.
Address barriers that prevent women from participating in decision-making.
Promote inclusive governance and sustainable development in Lesotho.

Why the Initiative is Needed

The document highlights that:

Women occupy only about 25% of seats in the National Assembly.
Young women and women with disabilities remain underrepresented.
Cultural, financial, institutional, and political barriers limit women’s participation.
The upcoming 2027 elections present an opportunity to increase women’s involvement in politics.
Lesotho’s celebration of 60 years of independence in 2026 provides a platform to advance gender-inclusive leadership.

Main Project Components

The initiative consists of six major programmes:

1. Race for Parliament

Prepares women, especially young women, for leadership and political participation.

2. Mentorship and Coaching

Connects emerging women leaders with experienced mentors and role models.

3. Feminist Dialogues

Encourages discussions on gender equality and women’s leadership.

4. Men as Allies

Engages men to support women’s empowerment and inclusion.

5. Coalitions and Advocacy

Builds partnerships to influence policies and strengthen women’s representation.

6. Media and Public Awareness

Uses storytelling and media campaigns to change perceptions about women leaders.

Key Activities

The project includes:

Official launch on 22 June 2026.
Stakeholder engagement and baseline studies.
Leadership training programmes.
Race for Parliament programme targeting 300 women.
Mentorship programme with 80 mentor-mentee pairs.
Leadership pathway for 50 women with disabilities.
Feminist dialogues and national discussions across the country’s districts.
Media campaigns expected to reach over 100,000 people.
Community and institutional engagement with government, parliament, and political parties.

Sustainability

The project aims to create long-term impact through:

Training future women leaders.
Building mentor networks.
Establishing women with disabilities as leadership champions.
Strengthening community dialogue structures.
Engaging government, parliament, political parties, and the private sector.
Maintaining partnerships and resource mobilisation beyond the grant period.

UN Engagement

The official launch theme is:

“As Lesotho Celebrates 60 Years of Independence, How Can We Harness Women’s Participation in Governance and Leadership to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Inclusive Decision-Making?”

The programme encourages participation from:

UN agencies,
International women leaders,
Development partners,
Political leaders,
Mentors and fellowship programmes.

Project Partners

The BAM Group Foundation leads the project with several partners:

Young Women of Africa – youth and political advocacy.
Disability Empowerment Association of Lesotho – inclusion of women with disabilities.
YouthHubConnekt – youth mobilisation and advocacy.
African Parliament Press Network Lesotho – media engagement and positive narratives about women leaders.

Overall Conclusion

The WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative is a strategic national effort to increase the participation of women in leadership and governance in Lesotho. Through leadership training, mentorship, advocacy, media engagement, and partnerships, the programme seeks to build a more inclusive political landscape and ensure that women—particularly young women and women with disabilities—play a meaningful role in shaping the country’s future. The initiative also aligns with Lesotho’s 60th independence celebrations and preparations for the 2027 elections, making it both timely and nationally significant.

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