[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1135, 233], "category": "Text", "text": "quality and catchment management. Ensuring a closer alignment between regional and national programmes will also help ensure that the sectors that make most use of water in the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) countries (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho) do so efficiently."}, {"bbox": [96, 258, 1135, 522], "category": "Text", "text": "Water is generally described as an abundant resource in Lesotho, yet, less than a third of the population have access to a safely managed drinking water service, and less than half have access to a safely managed sanitation service, both leading to profound risks to public health and public safety<sup>15</sup>. WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) access is a prerequisite for economic growth, poverty alleviation and to ensure basic human rights. A number of sectors require regular water supply to develop and create jobs, especially agriculture. Food insecurity has intensified in recent years, particularly following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, resulting in higher food and fuel prices, coupled with imports dependency (22% of the population are rated as severely food insecure)<sup>16</sup>. The sustainable management of water resources is key to foster domestic food production, counter food insecurity and reduce reliance on imports from South Africa. Water is also crucial for Lesotho's industrial and commercial activities."}, {"bbox": [96, 550, 1135, 789], "category": "Text", "text": "Water resources management is also a strategic component of public safety (disaster risk reduction, as regards flooding), climate resilience (to help absorb changes in precipitation patterns and droughts, already experienced, especially outside of the rainy season), and creating liveable and sustainable communities. Around 70% of the rural population relies on agriculture and women and girls are more likely to be responsible for water collection, food production and preparation within households. Water is necessary not only for drinking, but for personal hygiene (on daily basis even during menstruation, pregnancy, child birth and during breast feeding), cleaning, waste disposal, washing, caring for the sick and care of domestic animals. One of the causes of maternal mortality in Lesotho is insufficient water within health facilities<sup>17</sup>. There is also an urgent need for water in schools to enable safe learning environments."}, {"bbox": [96, 815, 1135, 1134], "category": "Text", "text": "The current rate of erosion in the catchment areas of Lesotho threatens agriculture (crop and livestock production), hydropower generation, and livelihoods as a result of overgrazing and land degradation. The core challenge presently addressed under ReNoka is the absence of an integrated catchment management framework to effectively halt, reverse and prevent these challenges. Effective implementation of an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach through intersectorial and multi-stakeholder cooperation has to date not been fully institutionalised. ReNoka currently supports the Government of Lesotho in the establishment and implementation of a national multi-sectoral ICM programme. The programme follows a two-pronged approach, where capacities are strengthened at policy, institutional and individual levels. At the same time, catchment management plans and measures in prioritised sub-catchments are being implemented. This approach has enabled stakeholders and citizens to appreciate the benefits of ICM, learn on-the-job and generate lessons to feed back into policy and institutional reform processes (\"learning loop\"). The creation of a ICM financing mechanism is also being tested and will be further boosted by this action."}, {"bbox": [96, 1160, 1135, 1348], "category": "Text", "text": "The MIP is fully aligned with Lesotho's second five-year NSDP II. The NSDP II consists of four key priority areas: (1) Enhancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth and Private Sector-led Job Creation, (2) Strengthening Human Capital, (3) Building Enabling Infrastructure, and (4) Strengthening National Governance and Accountability Systems. In terms of policy alignment, the policies set out in the Plan are consistent with the United Nation's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063. Furthermore, the MIP is aligned with EU external political priorities and puts focus on key challenges related to environment and climate change, such the European Green Deal and the Global Gateway Strategy<sup>18</sup>."}, {"bbox": [85, 1440, 341, 1471], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 1486, 317, 1512], "category": "Text", "text": "Short problem analysis:"}, {"bbox": [85, 1548, 214, 1574], "category": "Footnote", "text": "<sup>15</sup> sdg6data.org"}, {"bbox": [85, 1573, 450, 1598], "category": "Footnote", "text": "<sup>16</sup> Annual Country Reports – Lesotho, 2022"}, {"bbox": [85, 1597, 673, 1623], "category": "Footnote", "text": "<sup>17</sup> Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC)- 2016 report"}, {"bbox": [85, 1622, 448, 1645], "category": "Footnote", "text": "<sup>18</sup> COM/2019/640 final and JOIN(2021)30 final"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 28"}]