[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1135, 260], "category": "Text", "text": "that becomes increasingly sustainable and self-sufficient with regard to energy generation and consumption and\nthat provides affordable access to energy, water and sanitation for all the population. Under the second priority\narea, EU cooperation supports the process of national reforms undertaken by Lesotho and the improvement of\nservice delivery to the citizenry, particularly social protection."}, {"bbox": [96, 287, 1135, 448], "category": "Text", "text": "*Metsi a Lesotho* (Water of Lesotho) will contribute to the first priority area by promoting access to water and sanitation services in rural areas and strengthening capacities for water resources management. Its specific objectives are to increase access to safe, sustainable and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems in rural communities and schools; ensure that Lesotho sustainably manages its water and land resources; and strengthen national water sector capacities to improve services and cooperation at community, catchment and transboundary levels."}, {"bbox": [96, 475, 1135, 611], "category": "Text", "text": "The action foresees three components. The first component is dedicated to providing access to WASH facilities in rural schools and clinics, as an emergency measure, and operationalising (rehabilitating existing or constructing new) water supply systems for the rural communities hosting the targeted schools and clinics. This will require the prior establishment of WASH policies and capacities at the community and district levels consistent with the ongoing nation-wide decentralisation process."}, {"bbox": [96, 635, 1135, 1034], "category": "Text", "text": "The second component foresees a continuation of the national Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) programme, also known as ReNoka (\"We are a river\"⁶), supported as part of the 11th European Development Fund until 2025. This component will look into expanding the piloted initial phase of ReNoka into other sub-catchment areas, covering 50% of the total sub-catchments in Lesotho. It will ensure continued support to the established institutions and structures under ReNoka, at national and local level. ICM strategic catchment development plans will receive additional support for their implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The action will further aim at reinforcing ICM financing mechanisms (to be tested under ReNoka) as multi-stakeholder partnerships to build long-term resource sustainability (including private sector). This action will further look into developing/supporting projects following the water-energy and natural resources nexus, as an instrument of inclusive green growth and sustainable development. Incentives for community engagement in the protection of natural resources and infrastructure (water systems) will also be pursued through commercial livelihood support interventions, accompanied by value chain development. Lastly, the action will continue with the implementation of the soil and water conservation measures - prevention and rehabilitation - in the catchments through i.e. the construction of stone bunds, road storm water management, rehabilitation of terracing, gully head stabilisation, sustainable rangeland management, etc."}, {"bbox": [96, 1059, 1135, 1300], "category": "Text", "text": "The third component is dedicated to building capacities in the cadres of key Lesotho entities responsible for\nnational and international waters and its management. Cadre strengthening is necessary in this action to extend\nsustainable water management to other aspects (such as, bulk water supply, WASH and data management) and to\nextend benefits to additional partners and water users across Lesotho. With regard to water management at the\ninternational level, the action will support capacities needed to capitalise on Lesotho's position as the 'water tower'\nof Southern Africa, including techniques, know-how and diplomacy to respond to existing and ongoing requests\nfor water exports from neighbouring countries and monitor that this is done sustainably. A 'data management task\nforce' will be established across the sector entities engaged in data collection and, accordingly, a national water\ndashboard will be developed to share (on a 'need to know' basis) and track water sector developments."}, {"bbox": [96, 1325, 1135, 1538], "category": "Text", "text": "*Metsi a Lesotho* is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) as well as the National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II ⁷). It also advances the objectives of the EU Gender Action Plan III⁸, particularly its thematic area of engagement “promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women”, and will take into account various climate change scenarios and gender-related issues. By promoting access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene and sustainable water management, it directly contributes to the Lesotho Green Deal Team Europe Initiative and the Global Gateway Strategy, delivering sustainable, resilient and high-quality actions, as well as contributing to areas of digitalisation (e.g. water and sanitation e-services) and creating sustainable growth and jobs. This action will pave the way for potential blending"}, {"bbox": [86, 1573, 333, 1599], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ Website: https://renoka.org/"}, {"bbox": [86, 1598, 1028, 1624], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ https://www.gov.ls/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Strategic-Development-Plan-II-2018-19-2022-23.pdf"}, {"bbox": [86, 1622, 882, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-01/join-2020-17-final_en.pdf"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 28"}]