Deadline: 30-Nov-2025
UNICEF is supporting initiatives that strengthen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as independent actors of governance and development to empower youth participation in national and local policy processes in Lesotho.
The focus is to strengthen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as independent actors of governance and development in their own right. The outcome is that CSOs implement projects that empower at least 10% of youth in Lesotho, with special reference to Youth with Disability and Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), to empower them to participate in national-level dialogue, local-level planning, budgeting and monitoring, and to play an active role in policy dialogue and advocacy using a bottom-up approach. The expected outputs are that relevant projects are in place that reach 10% of youth with special reference to Youth with Disability and AGYW to capacitate and empower them to participate in local-level planning, budgeting and monitoring; selected projects are effectively managed, and CSOs are able to utilise assigned funds in 3 years, empowering selected beneficiaries to participate in local-level planning, budgeting and monitoring and policy advocacy; and lessons learned and best practices are available to stakeholders and to the general public.
This initiative seeks to empower youth, particularly marginalized groups such as Youth with Disability and Adolescent Girls and Young Women, by promoting their inclusion in governance and decision-making processes at both the national and community levels. By supporting CSOs through funding and capacity development, the program aims to ensure that these organizations can effectively design, implement, and manage projects that advance youth participation in policy advocacy and governance.
A total indicative budget of 49,000 has been allocated for the initiative, supporting activities across various districts including Berea, Mafeteng, Botha-Bothe, Mokhotlong, Leribe, Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek, Thaba-Tseka, and Qacha’s Nek. The implementation period will span three years, during which CSOs will be expected to demonstrate effective fund utilization and tangible results in empowering the target youth groups.
The selected CSOs will work to create sustainable mechanisms that allow young people to engage in local-level planning, budgeting, and monitoring. These projects are expected to adopt participatory approaches that build leadership and advocacy skills among youth, fostering a generation capable of influencing policy through structured, community-based action.
Ultimately, the project aims to generate valuable lessons learned and best practices that will be shared with stakeholders and the wider public, enhancing future programming and ensuring sustainable youth engagement in governance.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
