Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The United Nations Development Programme is seeking applications from youth in Lesotho to support entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable business growth through the Sebabatso initiative. The programme supports young entrepreneurs and innovators with training, capacity building, market access, finance access and targeted support to scale youth-led businesses and development solutions.
Sebabatso includes two main streams: Entrepreneurs for youth aged 15–35 with existing businesses, and the STEAM Initiative for innovators aged 16 and above with ideas linked to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The initiative is open to youth from all districts of Lesotho and supports solutions aligned with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Programme Overview
The Sebabatso Youth Empowerment Initiative is a youth-focused programme designed to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and business development in Lesotho.
Sebabatso is also known as the Prime Minister’s Vanguard Initiative for Youth Empowerment.
The initiative is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development.
It aims to help young people grow sustainable businesses, scale innovative ideas and contribute to national development.
Main Objective
The main objective of the programme is to support youth in Lesotho by removing barriers that prevent youth-led enterprises and innovations from becoming sustainable.
The initiative seeks to:
- Promote youth entrepreneurship
- Strengthen innovation capacity
- Support business growth and scaling
- Improve access to markets
- Improve access to finance
- Build practical business skills
- Encourage youth-led development solutions
- Support national development and the Sustainable Development Goals
Key Focus Areas
The initiative supports youth-led work in entrepreneurship, innovation and development problem-solving.
Key focus areas include:
- Youth entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Business development
- Market access
- Access to finance
- Capacity building
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
- Youth empowerment
- National development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Youth-led solutions to development challenges
Programme Streams
Sebabatso has two main streams:
- Entrepreneurs Stream
- Innovators Stream through the STEAM Initiative
Each stream targets a different type of youth applicant.
The Entrepreneurs stream supports young people with existing businesses, while the STEAM Initiative supports youth with innovative ideas that can address development challenges in Lesotho.
Entrepreneurs Stream
The Entrepreneurs stream is designed for young entrepreneurs who already have businesses and need support to grow.
This stream helps youth-led businesses move to the next stage of development.
It focuses on business uniqueness, growth potential and positive community impact.
Who is Eligible for the Entrepreneurs Stream?
The Entrepreneurs stream is open to youth entrepreneurs aged 15–35.
Applicants should have existing businesses that require support to grow, scale or become more sustainable.
Eligible applicants include young entrepreneurs from:
- All districts of Lesotho
- All backgrounds
- All genders
- Different stages of career development
What Entrepreneurs Receive
Participants in the Entrepreneurs stream may receive support to strengthen their businesses and overcome barriers to growth.
Support may include:
- Business training
- Capacity building
- Market access support
- Access to finance opportunities
- Business development guidance
- Support to scale operations
- Assistance in overcoming growth barriers
- Exposure to new opportunities
The goal is to help youth-led businesses become more sustainable, competitive and impactful.
STEAM Initiative
The STEAM Initiative operates under the Sebabatso umbrella.
It is led by UNDP Lesotho in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
STEAM stands for:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Arts
- Mathematics
The initiative promotes innovation, creativity and problem-solving among young people in Lesotho.
Who is Eligible for the STEAM Initiative?
The STEAM Initiative is open to innovators aged 16 and above.
Applicants must have innovative ideas that address development challenges in Lesotho.
They may apply:
- Individually
- As a group
The initiative welcomes youth-led ideas that can contribute to national development and practical problem-solving.
Priority Sectors for STEAM Solutions
STEAM projects should align with Lesotho’s development priorities and relevant sectors.
Priority sectors include:
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Tourism
- Agriculture
- Technology
- Health
- Transportation
- Energy
- Finance
Projects should also fit within at least one STEAM discipline and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
What Types of Ideas Are Suitable?
Suitable ideas should be innovative, practical and relevant to Lesotho’s development needs.
Strong proposals may include solutions that:
- Address local development challenges
- Use science or technology creatively
- Improve access to services
- Support economic growth
- Strengthen community resilience
- Create jobs or income opportunities
- Improve public systems
- Support environmental or social impact
- Contribute to national development plans
- Align with the Sustainable Development Goals
Who Can Apply?
The initiative is open to youth in Lesotho.
Eligible applicants include:
- Young entrepreneurs
- Innovators
- Youth-led groups
- Individual applicants
- Existing youth business owners
- Young people with STEAM-based ideas
- Youth from all districts of Lesotho
- Youth from all backgrounds and genders
Applicants should select the stream that best fits their profile.
Entrepreneurs with existing businesses should apply under the Entrepreneurs stream.
Innovators with development-focused ideas should apply under the STEAM Initiative.
Why This Initiative Matters
Youth in Lesotho have strong potential to create businesses, technologies and solutions that support national development.
However, many young entrepreneurs face barriers such as limited access to finance, weak market links, lack of training and limited business development support.
The Sebabatso initiative helps address these barriers by providing youth with practical tools, capacity building and opportunities to grow.
It also supports Lesotho’s broader development goals by encouraging youth-led innovation in key sectors such as agriculture, health, technology, energy and finance.
How the Programme Works
The programme identifies promising youth entrepreneurs and innovators and provides support to help them develop, grow and scale their work.
Step 1: Choose the Right Stream
Applicants should first identify which stream matches their profile.
Choose the Entrepreneurs stream if you are aged 15–35 and already have a business that needs support to grow.
Choose the STEAM Initiative if you are aged 16 or above and have an innovative idea that addresses a development challenge in Lesotho.
Step 2: Prepare the Business or Innovation Idea
Applicants should clearly describe their business or idea.
The application should explain:
- What the business or idea does
- What problem it solves
- Who benefits from it
- Why it is innovative
- How it supports local communities
- How it contributes to Lesotho’s development
Step 3: Show the Development Impact
Applicants should explain how their business or idea creates positive impact.
This may include:
- Job creation
- Youth empowerment
- Community development
- Better access to services
- Economic growth
- Technology adoption
- Social innovation
- Sustainable development
Step 4: Demonstrate Growth Potential
Entrepreneurs should show how their existing businesses can grow with support.
This may include plans to:
- Reach new customers
- Improve products or services
- Increase revenue
- Expand to new markets
- Strengthen operations
- Access finance
- Create more jobs
Step 5: Align STEAM Ideas with Priority Sectors
STEAM applicants should explain how their ideas fit within at least one STEAM discipline.
They should also show how the idea aligns with priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, health, technology, energy, manufacturing, transportation, mining or finance.
Step 6: Explain Support Needed
Applicants should clearly state what type of support they need.
This may include:
- Training
- Mentorship
- Market access
- Financial access
- Technical guidance
- Business development support
- Innovation development support
- Networking opportunities
Step 7: Submit a Clear and Complete Application
Applicants should ensure that all information is accurate, complete and easy to understand.
A strong application should be direct, practical and focused on impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying to the wrong stream
- Submitting an idea with no clear development impact
- Failing to explain the business or innovation clearly
- Providing vague information about the target community
- Ignoring the link to national development priorities
- Not showing how the project supports the Sustainable Development Goals
- Submitting a business with no clear growth plan
- Failing to explain what support is needed
- Providing an idea that does not fit any STEAM discipline
- Leaving out important details about the applicant or team
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly explain the business or innovation
- Identify the problem being solved
- Show why the idea is unique
- Demonstrate positive community impact
- Explain how the solution supports Lesotho’s development
- Show growth or scaling potential
- Align with relevant sectors and STEAM disciplines
- Describe the support needed from the programme
- Use simple and direct language
- Provide realistic goals and expected outcomes
FAQ
1. What is the Sebabatso Youth Empowerment Initiative?
Sebabatso is the Prime Minister’s Vanguard Initiative for Youth Empowerment in Lesotho. It supports youth entrepreneurship, innovation and youth-led solutions to development challenges.
2. Who implements the initiative?
The initiative is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development. The STEAM Initiative is led by UNDP Lesotho in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
3. What are the main programme streams?
The programme has two main streams: Entrepreneurs and Innovators. The Innovators stream is supported through the STEAM Initiative.
4. Who can apply for the Entrepreneurs stream?
Youth entrepreneurs aged 15–35 with existing businesses can apply. The business should need support to grow, scale or reach the next stage of development.
5. Who can apply for the STEAM Initiative?
Innovators aged 16 and above can apply with ideas that address development challenges in Lesotho and fit within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts or Mathematics.
6. Can applicants apply as groups?
Yes. Applicants may apply individually or in groups, especially under the STEAM Initiative.
7. What sectors are prioritised under the STEAM Initiative?
Priority sectors include mining, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, technology, health, transportation, energy and finance.
Conclusion
The UNDP Sebabatso Youth Empowerment Initiative supports young people in Lesotho by promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and STEAM-based solutions.
The programme provides an important opportunity for youth entrepreneurs and innovators to access training, capacity building, market opportunities, finance access and targeted support for growth.
By supporting youth-led businesses and ideas, Sebabatso helps strengthen national development, expand economic opportunities and empower young people to solve real challenges across Lesotho.
For more information, visit UNDP.