Strengthening youth leadership and advocacy in Lesotho
Key outcomes from the Youth Power Hub Incubation Program
From January 27th to 31st, 2025, representatives from 32 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) selected for the Youth Power Hub Incubation Program participated in an intensive Training of Trainers.
This initiative aimed to enhance organizational capacity and effectiveness by equipping participants with critical knowledge and skills in areas such as NGO corporate governance, leadership and positioning, financial management, advocacy for change, project management, monitoring and evaluation, governance and politics, diversity and inclusion, migration, and social accountability.
These sessions provided a robust foundation for strengthening youth-led and youth-focused CSOs, ensuring they can drive meaningful change within their communities. Following the training, participants will return to their respective districts to cascade the knowledge gained to over 200 members within their organizations.
This process is integral to fostering widespread organizational growth, ensuring that insights from the training are effectively disseminated at the grassroots level. Additionally, the CSOs will embark on drafting key policy documents to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. By formalizing governance structures and strategic frameworks, these organizations will be better positioned to make a lasting impact in their respective communities.
Empowering youth voices: Networking pitso sparks policy dialogue
On the sidelines of the Training of Trainers, representatives from the CSOs engaged in a dynamic networking pitso, following up on recommendations made during the launch of the Youth Power Hub in September 2024. This session provided a crucial platform for dialogue between young leaders and key policymakers, including the Honourable Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Hon. Lesaoana Pitso, the Ambassador of the European Union to Lesotho, Her Excellency Ms. Paola Amadei, and the Parliamentary Committee Chair of Chairs and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Social Cluster, Hon. Mokhothu Makhalanyane.
Discussions centered on creating an enabling environment for youth empowerment and development, with a particular focus on expectations for the 2025/26 national budget. Youth participants shared their experiences and perspectives on critical topics such as engagement with the legislature, opportunities and challenges in local governance, and strategies for leveraging youth structures to amplify their voices in decision-making processes. The dialogue underscored the necessity of sustained engagement between young people and policymakers to drive policy reforms that reflect youth priorities.
The Youth Power Hub Incubation Program continues to serve as a catalyst for change, equipping young leaders with the tools and networks necessary to shape a more inclusive and responsive governance landscape. As participants implement their newfound knowledge and advocate for youth-centered policies, their collective efforts will contribute to a stronger, more empowered generation poised to influence sustainable development in their communities.