Lesotho Strengthens Development Financing Through South-South Learning Exchange in The Gambia

Lesotho is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable national development through a South-South learning exchange in The Gambia focused on improving government development financing. The visit is being led by the Right Honourable Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho, National Assembly, who is heading a delegation tasked with studying innovative approaches to financing and delivering national development priorities. The exchange reflects Lesotho’s determination to strengthen public institutions, improve service delivery and build stronger partnerships with international development organizations. Central to the discussions is the Government Development Financing (GDF) approach, a government-led financing model implemented through strategic collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). By learning from The Gambia’s experience, Lesotho hopes to identify practical strategies that can enhance the implementation of its own development agenda while ensuring greater efficiency, accountability and long-term sustainability.

The Government Development Financing approach has emerged as an important model for countries seeking to strengthen national ownership of development programmes while leveraging the technical expertise and financial support of development partners. Unlike traditional project-based funding, the GDF model places governments at the center of planning, financing and implementation, ensuring that development initiatives remain closely aligned with national priorities. Through this approach, governments work alongside UNDP to co-design programmes that respond directly to the needs of their citizens while building institutional capacity for long-term success. The model encourages transparency, stronger coordination across ministries and more effective use of public resources. For Lesotho, understanding how this financing mechanism operates in practice provides valuable insight into improving the management of development investments and accelerating progress toward national goals.

As part of the official programme, the Lesotho delegation paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery, as well as the Honourable Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service of The Gambia. These high-level engagements created an opportunity for both countries to exchange experiences on governance, policy implementation and public sector reform. Discussions focused on how effective leadership, institutional coordination and strategic financing can improve the delivery of essential public services. The meetings also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships between governments and development partners to ensure that national programmes achieve measurable and lasting results. Such engagements form an essential part of South-South cooperation by allowing countries with similar development priorities to learn directly from one another’s experiences.

A major focus of the discussions was The Gambia’s Programme for Accelerated Community Development (PACD), a flagship government initiative delivered through the Government Development Financing modality. The programme demonstrates how coordinated financing and effective partnerships can support inclusive development while responding to the needs of communities across the country. Through close collaboration between the Government of The Gambia and UNDP, the PACD has become an example of how government-led initiatives can successfully mobilize resources, strengthen public institutions and improve service delivery. The programme also illustrates the benefits of aligning development financing with clearly defined national priorities rather than fragmented individual projects. For the visiting delegation from Lesotho, the PACD offered practical lessons on designing and implementing programmes that produce sustainable social and economic outcomes.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho expressed sincere appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the Gambian government and acknowledged the value of the knowledge shared throughout the exchange. The Speaker emphasized that learning from successful regional examples is an important step in strengthening Lesotho’s own development systems and improving public service delivery. The experience provided an opportunity to examine practical solutions that could be adapted to Lesotho’s unique national context. By observing how The Gambia has implemented the Government Development Financing model, the delegation gained a clearer understanding of the institutional structures, partnerships and governance mechanisms required for successful implementation. These lessons are expected to contribute to future policy discussions and development planning efforts in Lesotho.

The Gambian leadership welcomed the opportunity to share its experiences and encouraged the Lesotho delegation to apply the lessons learned in ways that support national development priorities back home. Officials highlighted the importance of adapting successful models to local circumstances rather than simply replicating programmes without considering each country’s unique needs and challenges. They also emphasized that continuous learning and collaboration among African nations strengthen regional development while promoting innovation and institutional improvement. Such exchanges create valuable opportunities for governments to identify practical solutions that have already demonstrated success in comparable environments. This collaborative approach reinforces the idea that African countries possess significant expertise that can be shared across borders to accelerate development.

South-South cooperation has become an increasingly important mechanism for promoting sustainable development throughout Africa and other developing regions. By encouraging countries to exchange knowledge, technical expertise and policy experience, these partnerships help accelerate progress toward shared development objectives. Rather than relying solely on external models, governments participating in South-South cooperation benefit from practical examples that often reflect similar economic conditions, governance structures and development challenges. This makes the lessons learned more relevant and easier to adapt to national priorities. For Lesotho, continued participation in these regional exchanges strengthens institutional capacity while expanding opportunities to build partnerships that support long-term development.

Strengthening development financing remains a critical priority for governments seeking to improve infrastructure, public services and economic growth while ensuring that limited resources are used effectively. Effective financing models must support accountability, transparency and measurable results while allowing governments to respond to changing national needs. Strategic partnerships with organizations such as UNDP provide valuable technical assistance, capacity building and financial expertise that complement government leadership. The Government Development Financing approach offers a framework for achieving these objectives by placing governments in the lead while encouraging collaborative implementation. As Lesotho continues exploring this model, the knowledge gained through exchanges with countries like The Gambia will help inform future reforms and strengthen national development planning.

The South-South learning exchange between Lesotho and The Gambia represents an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation and advancing sustainable development across Africa. By studying the Government Development Financing approach and engaging directly with Gambian leaders, the Lesotho delegation has gained valuable insights into improving public service delivery, strengthening institutional capacity and mobilizing development financing more effectively. The discussions reaffirmed the successful partnership between the Government of The Gambia and UNDP while highlighting the importance of government-led development initiatives that respond to national priorities. The exchange also demonstrated the lasting value of collaboration, shared learning and mutual support among African nations working toward common development goals. As Lesotho applies these lessons at home, continued investment in strategic partnerships, effective governance and innovative financing approaches will play a vital role in achieving inclusive and sustainable national development.