Lesotho’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Matete ‘Nena, commended UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) for their unwavering commitment and effective coordination of UN agencies’ efforts in tackling the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Addressing the ongoing United Nations Member States Interactive Dialogue with Resident Coordinators, Ambassador ‘Nena acknowledged the RCs’ remarkable achievements in mobilizing resources and coordinating their use despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted their ability to optimize the impact of UN agencies’ work in capital cities, ensuring that their efforts align with national development priorities.
Ambassador ‘Nena further underscored Lesotho’s efforts to align its national development goals with the 2030 Agenda. He emphasized the development and launch of the National Framework Document, championed at the level of Head of Government, which is in harmony with the National Strategic Development Plan II, outlining Lesotho’s national priorities.
In a significant statement, Ambassador ‘Nena revealed Lesotho’s ambitious plans to use the commemoration of its 200th anniversary in 2024 as a platform to chart the future of its citizens for the next 100 years. He envisioned a future where Lesotho’s youth are empowered as entrepreneurs in productive sectors such as agriculture, energy production, mining, and innovative industrial sectors.
He emphasized the importance of leveraging Lesotho’s rich natural resources, such as water, to address the needs of its youth, stressing that by empowering the youth, the country can effectively tackle issues of peace and security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals targets.