"𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐒$ 𝟐.𝟓 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐏𝐄 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧"
On September 12th, 2024, the Global Partnership for Education (𝐆𝐏𝐄) approved a 𝐔𝐒$ 𝟐.𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 Multiplier Grant to support equitable and inclusive access to quality education in Lesotho. This funding made possible through contributions from Lesotho's private sector—Econet Telecom Lesotho/Higherlife Foundation, Vodacom Lesotho 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and Standard Lesotho Bank—marks a significant step toward improving learning outcomes for all Basotho children.
As part of 𝐆𝐏𝐄's innovative financing mechanism, US$ 5 million was approved for matching investments from donors, for which Lesotho was eligible. By early 2022, UNICEF Lesotho in collaboration with the Roger Federer Foundation (RFF), successfully unlocked US$ 2.5 million. Private sector partners—Standard Lesotho Bank, Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, and Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL)/HigherLife Foundation—committed an additional US$ 3.5 million, exceeding the amount required to unlock the remaining funds.
Under the GPE Multiplier Grant, every dollar from private sector partners and foundations unlocks a matching grant from GPE.
The grant will bolster the Ministry of Education and Training's efforts to increase enrollment and retention of disadvantaged children in primary and secondary schools. Key interventions include scholarships for vulnerable children, re-entry programs for out-of-school youth, and governance improvements in the education sector, ensuring no child is left behind. In addition to improving access, the grant will strengthen academic supervision and mentoring systems in Lesotho. The goal is to enhance the quality of education by ensuring teachers receive adequate support, while technology-enabled assessments and early warning systems will help reduce dropout rates. Digital tools will also transform classrooms into vibrant, interactive learning environments.
Through the joint efforts of private sector partners and UNICEF in supporting the Ministry of Education and Training, the GPE grant will lay the foundation for a stronger education system, empowering Basotho children with the tools and knowledge needed to unlock their full potential.
#ForEveryChild