The resource mobilisation
has been identified as the key challenge in the operations of the
civil society organisations in poverty eradication, upholding of the
democratic ruling by the government and other complementary work of
the civil society organisations to the government.
This factor has limited the NGOs ability to respond to the
developmental challenges that face Lesotho ranging from food
insecurity and land degradation, HIV/AIDS, loss of jobs from the
mines and the textile industry etc. This state of affairs may be
attributed to a number of factors, donors shifting their focus from
Lesotho to other countries, difficulty in tapping funds from the
government, inadequate information pertaining to the development
partners and below standard project proposals and inability to build
fundable programs
It is against this challenges that the LCN organised a networking
trip with embassies and foundation both in Pretoria and Johannesburg
respectively to build rapport and networks. The trip was undertaken
in the week of July 2006. The team consisted of the following
organisations:
- Transformation
Resource Centre
- Lesotho National
Olympic Committee
- LPDCA
- YWCA
- LECAWU
- Ex-miners and Allied
workers Union
The purpose of the trip
was to adopt a different approach to fundraising. The traditional
manner of posting project proposal without understanding and
appreciating the work of the civil society organisations by the
development partners was being avoided. Therefore, the aim of this
exercise was built around the following understanding;
- Discussing Lesotho’s
developmental challenges with developmental partners and the
economical, political and social impacts on the lives of Basotho.
- Provision of the
inside of the activities and programmes that NGOs undertake and
sharing of the Lesotho NGOs perspective towards tackling those
challenges.
- Influencing
developmental partner’s strategies in responding to the challenges
that face the Southern African region with the special focus on
Lesotho.
It is important to note
that several donor agencies were contacted particularly those which
are accredited to Lesotho with the view to hold the round table
meeting with, however due to a number of reasons, tight schedules,
funding cycle completed ten were met and are;
1. Czech Republic Embassy
2. Italian Embassy
3. Royal Netherlands Embassy
4. Australian Embassy
5. Embassy of Japan
6. Embassy of New Zealand
7. Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
8. Heinrich Boll Foundation
9. Project Support Group
10. Oxfam
The LCN through the resource mobilisation unit will follow up on the
activities that need to be done with regard to this trip. The
follow-up meeting will be convened and this is where people will be
tasked with responsibilities as a result of the trip.
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