UN Women’s Lesotho Strategic Note 2023–2025 focuses on strengthening responses to structural challenges hindering inclusive growth in a lower middle-income country and disproportionately impacting women and vulnerable groups. Efforts align with the 2024–2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and Lesotho’s National Strategic Development Plan II, prioritizing human rights, gender equality and leaving no one behind.  

Key priorities include women, peace and security; the prevention of violence against women and girls; and reducing HIV among young women under the Spotlight 2.0 initiative. Programmes target areas with high gender-based violence prevalence and limited economic access.  

UN Women partners with UN entities, the Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Gender Theme Group to promote robust gender analysis, strengthen monitoring and reporting, and support the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment in national frameworks. Leveraging international instruments, including the Southern Africa Development Community Gender Protocol, these partnerships aim to accelerate transformative impacts on gender equality and women’s empowerment.