Lesotho

Lesotho struggles with chronic malnutrition, particularly among children aged 2-3, where stunting (impaired growth due to malnutrition) rates at 34.5 percent. Micronutrient deficiencies (mainly iron and vitamin A) also remain a challenge, affecting more than half of children under 5. Almost half of children between 6 and 59 months suffer from iron deficiency anaemia. This can result in stunted development, which may become irreversible without iron supplements.

The economy relies heavily on agriculture, which serves as the primary income source for people in rural areas. Approximately 80 percent of the rural population are subsistence farmers relying on less than 10 percent of arable land, which creates a high dependency on food imports. The country is prone to disease outbreaks and disasters, particularly floods, heavy rains and drought. These events significantly affect farmers by altering the growing season and reducing agricultural production.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of the conflict in Ukraine and recent heavy rains have posed challenges including increased urban and rural unemployment. This has reduced remittances, adversely affected food availability and prices, and damaged the purchasing power of poor households. As a result, vulnerable households have been pushed further into poverty.

Poor households have little resilience against economic shocks and lack savings or access to credit – trapping them in a cycle of low investments, productivity and income.