Lesotho is a country with different types of vulnerable groups and communities that suffer discrimination, marginalisation, and lack of inclusion. It is characterised by diverse ethnic groups and varying socio-economic backgrounds, including marginalised communities such as people with disabilities, rural communities, orphans, and/or vulnerable children, LGBTQIA+ and non-Sesotho speaking communities. Inclusive education sector dialogue is crucial to provide equal opportunities for all learners, especially those from marginalised communities. The space for such dialogue in Lesotho depends on policies, funding, and stakeholders' commitment to inclusivity. 

The Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN) is an umbrella organisation representing a diverse range of NGOs in Lesotho. It coordinates and advocates for the collective interests of the NGO community, addressing social challenges in education, health, poverty alleviation, human rights, gender, and environmental conservation. 

Through the EOL project, LCN will formulate an action plan to capacitate coalition members to open the space for non-state actors. The plan aims to enhance oversight capacity of parliamentary portfolio committees relevant to the education sector and employ advocacy and human rights-based approaches to engage stakeholders. The overall aim is to achieve an equitable and inclusive gender responsive education system in Lesotho. 

The project will continue the progress of the previous project phase, implemented between April 2022 – December 2023. 

The current project can be divided into five stages: 

First, by conducting comprehensive trainings on gender and inclusion in education policies for coalition members, they will be enabled to amplify the voices of marginalised communities and groups, and thus ensure their representation at decision making platforms beyond the village level. 

Secondly, the project aims to enlarge the shrinking civic space for inclusive education, by conducting sensitisation meetings with ministries and parliamentary portfolio committees. LCN will also engage local authorities, fostering awareness and promoting gender diversity, as well as gather data and evidence to identify key gaps in the education system. 

The third stage of the project focuses on enhancing LCN's capacity to strategically influence the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in education policy planning and implementation. It involves reviewing and disseminating the national education sector strategy, ensuring its alignment with SDG indicators and gender responsive policies, as well as conducting shadow reports. 

Moreover, LCN will establish Learning Collaboratives on knowledge generation and sharing for institutional strengthening of civil society organisations, with a focus on social accountability, inclusion, and gender equality. LCN will develop and disseminate information, education, communication materials and accountability tools. 

Finally, the project aims to improve collaboration in the region and beyond, by partaking and sharing progress in national, regional, and global educational events, participate in capacity-building trainings, and share education related interventions. Through these efforts, LCN seeks to foster stronger partnerships and broader impact beyond the borders of Lesotho. 

These stages will contribute to the overall objective of enhancing Lesotho’s civil society in its endeavour to achieve an equitable and inclusive gender responsive education system. 

A previous phase of the project was carried out between April 2022 – December 2023. The current project is part of the EOL extension phase of 2024-2026. Read more about the previous phase of the project here.