[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1135, 340], "category": "Text", "text": "individual laptops, instead of being integrated in a central database to be accessed by water sector entities; service performance or output benchmarking data remains isolated within a department, instead of being disseminated to customers and managers. These outputs form the basis of setting water conservation and allocation strategies, including for drought scenarios, and for setting agreements to share water with downstream countries. Maintaining water resources quantities and quality, requires attention to WASH strategies and facilities. Accordingly, data management for both water management and WASH themes can function as the vehicle to improve performance of water sector entities and attain more sustainable management of Lesotho's water."}, {"bbox": [96, 365, 1072, 421], "category": "Text", "text": "Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the action:"}, {"bbox": [106, 445, 1135, 579], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)** leads the water sector in Lesotho; it was formed in 2022 by joining the three former ministries of Energy and Meteorology, Mining, and Water. Its mandate is to strengthen the development and management of natural resources and to increase access to energy, water supply and sanitation services. Under this Ministry the following departments are involved in the management of the water sector:"}, {"bbox": [196, 579, 1135, 631], "category": "List-item", "text": "  * The **Office of the Commissioner of Water (CoW)** provides direction on water resources management and utilisation through planning and coordination;"}, {"bbox": [196, 632, 1135, 764], "category": "List-item", "text": "  * The **Department of Water Affairs (DWA)** is responsible for the monitoring, assessment and allocation of water resources. The Department hosts the ICM Central Unit (ICU) under ReNoka. It is also supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) with capacity development for water resources assessments and permit administration as part of a project on commercialising agriculture;"}, {"bbox": [196, 764, 1135, 897], "category": "List-item", "text": "  * The **Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS)** is responsible for water supply and sanitation infrastructure development and service delivery (including 'after care') in the rural areas (in practice defined as the areas not covered by the WASCO networks). DRWS supports community managed water schemes and on-site sanitation, and, as possible, hygiene education is offered concurrently to realise full health benefits of access to potable water and sanitation;"}, {"bbox": [196, 897, 1135, 974], "category": "List-item", "text": "  * The **Water and Sewerage Company of Lesotho (WASCO)** is the government-owned company responsible for water and sewerage services in major urban areas and for operation of bulk water services;"}, {"bbox": [196, 975, 1135, 1026], "category": "List-item", "text": "  * **Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA)** is mandated to regulate electricity and water services."}, {"bbox": [106, 1054, 1135, 1162], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MoFDP)** is responsible for financial regulations and national-level budgets – for National Departments and Local Councils. The MoFDP is the owner of the water sector assets. It administers the royalties for international water transfers, as per the Lesotho Highlands Water Treaty."}, {"bbox": [106, 1162, 1135, 1268], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **Ministry of Defence, National Security and Environment** is in charge of the overall regulatory framework for environmental management and pollution control under the Directorate of Environment. The Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation Department is responsible for rangeland management, forestry and soil conservation; earth dams, rainwater harvesting, erosion protection;"}, {"bbox": [106, 1268, 1135, 1321], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition** supports crops and livestock farmers and, in charge of irrigation regulation under the irrigation master plan;"}, {"bbox": [106, 1321, 1135, 1427], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police – Decentralisation Directorate** is responsible for the overall structure, mandates and capacity of District and Local Councils, as pertains to the overarching Decentralisation process (which in turn is driven by the *Local Government Bill 2017*, undergoing enactment, step-by-step);"}, {"bbox": [106, 1427, 1135, 1506], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The Department of Gender within the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture and Social Development takes gender concerns into account in all national and sectoral policies, programmes, budgets and plans in order to achieve gender equality in the development process;"}, {"bbox": [106, 1506, 1135, 1612], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The **District Councils** and **Local Councils** are responsible for implementation and operations and maintenance (O&M) of rural WASH infrastructure, within their respective jurisdiction. (The Local Councils are known as Municipal, City and Urban Councils in the urban areas and Community Councils in the rural areas);"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 8 of 28"}]