Integrating IPoA and SDGs into National Planning Processes – Lessons Learned

1. INTEGRATING THE IPoA AND SDGs INTO NATIONAL PLANNING PROCESSES – LESSONS LEARNEDMEETING OF THE NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS OF THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISTANBUL PROGRAMME OF ACTION (IPoA) 13 – 14 JULY 2017BYMOTULU MOLAPOCHIEF ECONOMISTPOLICY AND STRATEGIC PLANNINGMINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING LESOTHO

2. Contents • Introduction • Progress towards IPoA • SDGs Domestication • Linking National Goals with IPoA and SDGs • Challenges of IPoA Implementation • Next Steps IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

3. 1. Introduction • National goals in Lesotho are developed in line with Internationally and regionally agreed development agendas such as SDGs, IPoA, Agenda2063, SADC RISDP e.t.c. • Following the adoption of the IPoA by the LDCs in 2011, Lesotho completed its 5year medium term strategy, the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 12/13 – 2016/17). This was an opportunity for the country to integrate the IPoA into the NSDP. • The NSDP implementation will continue until 2017/18 in order to develop its successor. NSDP strategic goals were developed in line with the eight IPoA priorities. IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

4. Introduction… • International Development Agendas (SDGs, IPoA, Agenda 2063, SADC RISDP etc): National Priorities are developed in alignment with these agendas • National Vision 2020 (Long term): Medium term plan is aligned with the long term National Vision. The vision is that: “By the year 2020 Lesotho shall be a stable democracy, a united and prosperous nation at peace with itself and its neighbors. It shall have a healthy and well-developed human resource base. Its economy will be strong, its environment well managed and its technology well established.” • National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2012/13 – 2016/17 (i) Create high, shared and employment generating growth; (ii) Develop key infrastructure; (iii) Enhance skills base, technology adoption and foundation for innovation; (iv) Improve health, combat HIV and AIDS and reduce vulnerability; (v) Reverse environmental degradation and adapt to climate change; (vi) Promote peace, Democratic governance and effective institutions IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

5. 3. SDG Localization The government of Lesotho is working in collaboration with various stakeholders and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to localize and resume implementation of the SDGs. An SDG implementation road map has been developed and approved by cabinet. SDGs have been integrated into the planning and budgeting process: Budget Framework Papers. (Mapping exercise demonstrated below) Stakeholder sensitization forums have been held for all stakeholders at both central and district level including the Cabinet, Senate, Government Officials, District level multi-stakeholder sensitization held in all the 10 districts. IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

6. SDG Localization National Workshop for the Private sector, Civil Society Organizations and the Academia was held. The purpose was to: • brief participants about the unfinished business of the MDGs; • sensitize stakeholders about SDGs, and prioritize the SDGs; • update participants on progress towards implementation of SDGs; and • establish future working relations to ensure that SDGs are understood and implemented effectively; IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

7. SDG Localization The Rapid Integrate Assessment (RIA) was been used to link the current NSDP to SDGs to determine how far the current NSDP addresses the SDGs in order to identify the gaps that need to be addressed in the next NSDP. IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

8. 4. Linking National Goals with IPoA and SDGs IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

9. 5. Challenges of IPoA Implementation Several challenges have been met in Lesotho when implementing the IPoA. The country faced challenges such as: • Limited financial resources for implementation of the IPoA • Environmental challenges - The recent drought followed by floods that hit the region affected Lesotho because some of the priorities had to be put on hold while priority was put on people to access food and other necessities such as healthcare. • Lack of coordination – No proper institutional arrangements in place for implementation of the IPoA • Reporting challenges: Insufficient data for reporting IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

10. 6. Next Steps • The current NSDP, through which we have been implementing the IPoA, is coming to an end and preparations towards development of its successor have begun. • Preparations towards development of the next NSDP started with a review of the current NSDP. The review process entailed an assessment of what was achieved in terms of specific outputs that were planned for NSDP implementation; identification and analysis of the challenges met during the implementation period of the plan. • Recommendations of the review will be a critical input towards development of the next NSDP and how to accelerate progress towards IPoA goals. IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

11. 6. Next Steps • National goals and SDGs will be linked also at indicator level using the Rapid Integrated Assessment (RIA)Tool – Capacity building being undertaken for Planners and M&E officers to use the RIA tool for mainstreaming IPoA and SDGs into sectoral plans • Address the challenges met in the first five years of implementation: Mobilize domestic financial resources; establish institutional arrangements for implementation and develop an implementation framework to track implementation progress • Mainstream IPoA and SDGs into the next NSDP which will begin 2018/19 IPoA Implementation - Lesotho

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