Lesotho Annual Appeal No. 01.13/2004

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project.
This document refle cts a range of programmes and activities to be implemented in 2004, and the related funding requirements. These are based upon the broader, multi-year framework of the Federation’s Project Planning Process (PPP). The PPP products are either available throu gh hyperlinks in the text1, or can be requested through the respective regional department. For further information concerning programmes or operations in this or other countries or regions, please also access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

National Context

Lesotho is a small country (30,355 square kilometres) that is entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is one of the smallest countries in Southern Africa and has a population of approximately 2.2 million. The country is largely mountainous with four agroecological zones (lowlands, foothills, mountains and the Senqu valley) and cons equently being left with very little arable land. This has led to population pressure and forced settlements in marginal areas.

Although its economy is closely linked to that of South Africa, Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is based mainly on agriculture, light manufacturing and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. About 65.7% of the population live below the income poverty line (USD 2.00 per day); consequently, their income levels are inadequate for basic food and non-food consumption.

Overgrazing, soil erosion and soil exhaustion are problems that the country struggles with as two-thirds of the population are living in the rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Coupled with this, are erratic weather conditions including droughts, heavy snow fall, excessive rains, severe frosts, hailstorms, tornados and localized flood that have severely affected agricultural production and food security at household, community, district and national levels in Lesotho.

Sharply declining employment opportunities and rising staple food prices have also had an adverse effect on household resilience to cope with the shock of declining food availability and access. Follow ing the Lesotho government’s appeal to the international community for assistance to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, the country is currently in the midst of a food insecurity operation. In response to this call, the Federation launched a food security appeal in July 2002 in which the Lesotho Red Cross Society was included. Lesotho also struggles with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. These food shocks have to be understood in the context of the longer-term deterioration of agriculture combined with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Thus, food shortages and malnutrition are devastating to the health of PLWHA.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic also negatively affects agricultural production and socio -economic development, as the work force being the adult population, are the ones who are infected. At the same time the number of orphans and dependents continues to grow alarmingly. Evidently, there is a very close link between poverty at large and food insecurity in particular to HIV/AIDS.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Priorities

Movement Context:

As a humanitarian organization, Lesotho Red Cross is facing a lot of challenges considering prevailing situation in vulnerable communities. Following the successful elections in 1998 after the first democratically elected government came into power in 1994; Lesotho Red Cross has been striving to rebuild relations that were severely tempered during that period. Somehow Lesotho Red Cross intervention in these political riots received unfavourable response from the government and had a negative influence on the relations between the two parties. Efforts have since been made to restore good relations and consequently Lesotho Red Cross programmes are beginning to receive substantial funding and support from the government mainly in the area of health and disaster relief.

Following numerous problems at Lesotho Red Cross in the mid-1990s, sister national societies lost confidence in the Lesotho Red Cross and donors pulled out. This loss of reputation and performance has then called for the overall Lesotho Red Cross restructuring. For this purpose, a rescue and recovery plan was drawn and the process immediately followed. With effect from 2003 a strategic plan was then developed and put in place.

Although the situation has not greatly changed, the Lesotho Red Cross is receiving limited assistance from the Federation and bilateral partnership with the German Red Cross. Lesotho Red Cross has taken part during the joint WFP/Federation relief food distribution initiatives. Based on the Lesotho Red Cross strategic plan 2002 - 2012, the national society has identified the need for an effective response to the needs of the most vulnerable.

However, given the limited capacity and financial resources, it is highly imperative for the Federation to offer support to the national society staff at headquarters, divisions and branches so as to enhance its response mechanisms. This appeal has been highlighted in the capacity building proposal for 2004 - 2006 which called for the promotion of the image of Lesotho Red Cross. There will be an immense need for developing and strengthening the organizational systems and structures both financial and non-financial on management and governance capacity at headquarters and in the ten divisions.

National Society Strategy/Programme Priorities:

The Lesotho Red Cross Society was established in 1967 following a parliamentary act. The Lesotho Red Cross is regarded by the government as an independent voluntary relief organization, auxiliary to the public authorities especially in the areas of health, First Aid, disaster preparedness and response. As clearly stipulated in its strategic plan 2002-2012, the vision is to become a widely recognized and unique leading voluntary organization in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in Lesotho.

The priorities are arranged in accordance to the identified needs of the vulnerable and efforts are mainly made towards building a well-functioning national society by providing community-based programmes and strengthening the management and governance capacity through recruitment and retention of capable and committed paid and volunteer staff. To achieve this, emphasis is being made on the need to engage staff at all levels whose efforts can contribute efficiently and effectively in the lives of the vulnerable communities.

One of the main strategic issues is to increase the efforts on the national society’s programmes, strengthening divisions’ potential to scale up membership, volunteer’s resource base and fundraising. To facilitate this process and ensure the organization’s stability, resource mobilization initiatives are cited as fundamental. It is only upon accomplishment of the set plans that the national societ y’s image will be enhanced both locally and internationally.

Strengthening the National Society

Health and Care

Background and achievements/lessons to date

The element of health is more pronounced in most of the national society’s activities and programmes. As part of its health-related services, Lesotho Red Cross is focusing on providing high quality care and reproductive health services through the four Red Cross clinics. In response to Lesotho Red Cross rescue recovery plan, the Lesotho government offered financial support for procuring drugs and paying salaries of professional staff.

Programmes in health and care are HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation (WatSan) and First Aid. HIV/AIDS is receiving financial and technical support from the Federation and German Red Cross. The programme mainly focuses on home-based care (HBC), prevention, care and support for the chronically ill as well as those who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The national society has always been known for giving First Aid training throughout the whole country. Efforts are being made to promote community and commercial First Aid through providing training on emergency preparedness and response at all levels and integrating it into the HIV/AIDS programme.

In an effort to promote the quality of health among vulnerable communities living in the mountainous areas, Lesotho Red Cross through the WatSan programme has constructed pit latrines. The project was implemented through the financial aid of the Lesotho government.

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