Lesotho - Strengthening the institutional capacity for planning and preparedness to improve climate and disaster risks management

Context and Objectives

Lesotho faces many challenges posed by climate and disaster risks, which its government has been addressing by putting in place regulatory and policy frameworks and institutional arrangements for disaster management. Through the Strengthening the institutional capacity for planning and preparedness to improve climate and disaster risks management project, the ACP-EU NDRR Program provided technical assistance to the Government of Lesotho to improve its ability for emergency preparedness and response.

This project was informed by the analytical study funded under another ACP-EU NDRR project for Lesotho: Climate Risk Analysis & EWS Information Management Systems.

Main Activities

The following activities were implemented under the project: 

• Component 1: Strengthening the provision of meteorological services and early warning systems of the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS). This component helped the LMS develop its strategy paper and related action plan. 

• Component 2: Producing a multi-hazard contingency plan for better preparedness. This component undertook the following actions: (i) a field survey and consultations with community and districts, (ii) a review of data and information related to agriculture, health and social protection agencies, (iii) the preparation and analysis forecast for risk, and (iv) the identification of financing gaps and organizational arrangements for risk management.

• Component 3: Supporting the development of a National Public Health and Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan. This component supported the development of a Multi-Hazard National Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan which included guidance to rapidly assess gaps, identify priorities of intervention and mobilized resources within a reasonable timeline.

• Component 4: Assessing and improving management and operation of the Disaster Management Fund, managed by the Disaster Management Authority. This component provided technical assistance to assess the current practice, identify risks and gaps, prepare detail operation guidance, train the relevant staff to set up a sound financial management system in planning and monitoring the scare resource related to disaster management.

• Component 5: Communication, knowledge sharing, and dissemination. 

Results

Each component achieved a significant result: 

• Component 1: The Lesotho Meteorology Services Strategy 2019-2023 and the Early Warning System Strategy have been updated. An assessment of the LMS’ capability and major gaps to address were undertaken.

• Component 2: The National Resilience Strategic Framework and Theory of Change and the Disaster Risk Management Bill 2020 were reviewed.

• Component 3: The draft public health bill was reviewed to strengthen articles related to emergency management.

• Component 4: The Disaster Risk Management Bill 2020 was drafted. 

Partnerships and Coordination

The project was implemented by the World Bank in close collaboration with the Government and the Disaster Management Authority.