Lesotho Launches Multi-Stakeholder Workshop to Develop Digital Public Infrastructure Framework

The Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI) has launched a two-day workshop to co-create and validate Lesotho’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Framework Concept Note. The event is taking place at AVANI Maseru and brings together leaders from government, regulators, financial institutions, mobile network operators, utilities, academia, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.

Principal Secretary Kanono Ramashamole emphasized that building DPI is a collective national effort. He described it as the foundation for Lesotho’s inclusive digital transformation.

The DPI Framework will focus on four key areas. First, digital identity for all Basotho, implemented through MOSIP, Inji Wallet, and biometric authentication. Second, secure data exchange to protect citizen information and enable interoperability. Third, digital payments, including ID-linked government-to-person, person-to-government, and cross-border transactions. Fourth, cybersecurity and digital trust to ensure safe and reliable digital services.

The workshop engages multiple stakeholders. In the public sector, MICSTI leads with Home Affairs, Finance, Trade, the Central Bank of Lesotho, and the LCA. The private sector includes banks, insurers, Econet Lesotho, Vodacom Lesotho, and the ICT Association. Utilities represented are WASCO and LEC. Development partners include UNDP, UNICEF, the EU, and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Civil society and academia comprise NGOs, innovation hubs, and researchers.

Participants will explore both national and cross-border use cases, from digital IDs for healthcare, education, and agriculture, to SADC-wide eKYC pilots and instant payments. The workshop aligns Lesotho’s efforts with continental initiatives such as the AU Digital Transformation Strategy and global priorities like the UN Global Digital Compact.

PS Ramashamole thanked UNDP for sponsoring the workshop and supporting Lesotho’s digital transformation journey.

By the end of the workshop, Lesotho will establish a DPI Roadmap for three to five years, a national governance framework, and a portfolio of use cases designed to ensure no Mosotho is left behind in the digital era.