About the Event
The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lesotho, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO) Lesotho, will host a capacity-building workshop for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from 28th to 30th September 2026 in Maseru, Lesotho.
The workshop will bring together approximately 70 MSMEs to strengthen their ability to leverage trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while reinforcing existing preferences under SACU and the SADC Free Trade Area.
Background
Lesotho's economy is small and open, with trade closely tied to South Africa and the region. According to the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics (2024), exports totalled roughly M18.2 billion against M33.97 billion in imports, driven mainly by clothing and footwear, diamonds, and bulk water. South Africa alone accounts for about 58% of Lesotho's export value.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — which entered into force in 2019 was signed by Lesotho in 2018, and ratified in 2019, — opens access to a continental market of over a 1.4 billion people. However, many Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) still face barriers, including limited awareness of rules of origin, weak compliance capacity, and low uptake of digital trade tools. This workshop supports the country’s National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, which was developed with UNDP support.
Objective
The overall objective is to strengthen Lesotho's MSMEs' capacity to leverage AfCFTA by improving export readiness, trade compliance, and integration into regional and continental value chains — in line with the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and Action Plan.
Specific Objectives
- Strengthen understanding of SADC/AfCFTA Rules of Origin to qualify for preferential market access
- Improve access to market intelligence via digital tools to identify new African markets
- Promote integration into regional value chains, including links with buyers, wholesalers, and retailers
- Support adoption of digital trade and e-commerce solutions, including payments and logistics platforms
- Build awareness of SACU, SADC, and AfCFTA complementarities for strategic use of multiple trade regimes
- Build compliance capacity to meet quality and certification standards for regional markets
Focus Areas
- Market Intelligence and Export Opportunity Identification
- SACU, SADC, AfCFTA trade frameworks and Compliance to standards
- B2B Seminar and Market Linkages
Expected Outcomes
Improved MSME export readiness and Rules of Origin, SPS and standards compliance; expanded use of AfCFTA and regional trade preferences; stronger buyer-supplier relationships with regional retailers; and greater MSME adoption of digital trade tools. Participation by women- and youth-led enterprises will be actively encouraged. A post-workshop report will capture outcomes, recommendations, and MSMEs identified for follow-up technical assistance.
Enquiries:
Henry Lubinda, Programme Officer
ECA Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia
lubinda@un.org
Media Contact:
Lavender Degre, Communications Officer
ECA Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia
lavender.degre@un.org
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