People living in poverty and with disabilities in Lesotho face overlapping barriers, such as limited education, health care and labor-market access, that increase poverty risks. Policies like the Disability Equity Act (2021), Inclusive Education Policy (2018) and pilot Disability Grant create a rights-based foundation, but weak implementation, underfunding and stigma limit impact. Stronger social protection, inclusive education and scaled-up grants are key to breaking the cycle of disability and poverty in Lesotho.

Disability, Poverty and Social Protection in Lesotho

A report evaluating the effectiveness of Lesotho’s social protection policies and initiatives was published by the World Bank in partnership with the government of Lesotho. The research emphasizes the necessity for robust, efficient social protection measures to assist disadvantaged individuals in meeting their fundamental requirements. This need is especially urgent given Lesotho’s lackluster economic growth and constrained fiscal resources, which are further stretched by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lesotho’s achievement in developing safety net systems is acknowledged in the Social Protection Program and Systems Review. The review also offers several policy recommendations to boost cost savings and improve program efficacy and coverage. According to the Ministry of Social Development, Lesotho implements several key social protection initiatives to support the underprivileged.

One such initiative is the Child Grant Program, an unconditional cash transfer designed to improve the standard of living for low-income families with children younger than 18. The program aims to boost school enrollment, strengthen health outcomes and reduce malnutrition.

Lesotho’s Disability Act: Progress Made, Challenges Remain

Lesotho, a nation that has historically lagged in promoting rights and support for people with disabilities and poverty, saw a turning point with the passage of the Persons with Disability Act in 2021. The Act creates a legal framework to protect the autonomy, dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities in all areas of life.

However, even while the law has undoubtedly paved the way for PWDs to participate more fully in the business and economic sectors, structural issues and implementation still prevent the full potential of its revolutionary power from being realized. To ensure meaningful inclusion, systematic reforms must be implemented to align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Lesotho has ratified.

Lesotho Advances Disability Rights With Landmark Equity Bill

The Disability Equity Bill represents a major step forward for Lesotho’s social inclusion goals, crippling disability and poverty, according to the World Bank. The organization outlined its “10 Promises” in the summer of 2018 to accelerate global action for development that includes people with disabilities. The Disability Equity Bill builds on Lesotho’s previous efforts.

The country ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, becoming the 42nd nation. In 2017, the Constitutional Court struck down a provision in the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1981 that barred people with intellectual disabilities from testifying in court. The new bill requires the convention to be demonstrated and ensures that the rights it guarantees are implemented.

Takeaway

Lesotho has made progress in social protection and disability through programs like the Child Grant and laws such as the Persons with Disability Act and the Disability Equity Bill. Despite those advances, structural challenges and weak implementations limit their full effectiveness. Strengthening systems and enforcing disability rights are essential to reduce poverty and promote meaningful inclusion.

– Joshua Pettis

Joshua is based in Houston, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr