Mandate
The Division of International Liaison and Programmes Coordination is responsible for coordinating implementation of
(1) Oversee that all environmental programmes adhere to the National Environment Policy 1998
(2) Coordinating all Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) that Lesotho is a party to such as United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) etc and
(3) Coordination of Global Environment Facility (GEF) including GEF Small Grants Program (GEF-SGP).
What are MEAs?
Multilateral Environmental Agreements are agreements between three or more States that assist with addressing specific environmental problems at national, regional and global levels. These legally binding instruments were made with the recognition that may environmental issues cross international boundaries and therefore require international cooperation
Convention on Biological Diversity (Party since 10 April 1995, by ratification)
Article 6. General Measures for Conservation and Sustainable Use
Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities:
(a) Develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies, plans or programmes which shall reflect, inter alia, the measures set out in this Convention relevant to the Contracting Party concerned; and
(b) Integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.
Article 26. Reports
Each Contracting Party shall, at intervals to be determined by the Conference of the Parties, present to the Conference of the Parties, reports on measures which it has taken for the implementation of the provisions of this Convention and their effectiveness in meeting the objectives of this Convention
NBSAP
https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ls/ls-nbsap-01-en.pdf
https://ort.cbd.int/nbsaps/my-country/237131EA-ED8A-F7C7-AE54-A8102A922B4E/view
Reports
https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ls/ls-nr-01-en.pdf
https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ls/ls-nr-03-en.pdf
https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ls/ls-nr-04-en.pdf
https://www.cbd.int/doc/nr/nr-06/ls-nr-06-en.pdf
https://ort.cbd.int/national-reports/nr7/1CB62850-F41F-43DD-D1DB-7DCE57C647F3
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Party since 11 September 2003, by accession)
Article 33: Monitoring and Reporting
Each Party shall monitor the implementation of its obligations under this Protocol, and shall, at intervals to be determined by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol, report to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol on measures that it has taken to implement the Protocol.
Reports
https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ls/ls-nr-cpbi-en.doc
https://bch.cbd.int/en/database/NR2%7D/BCH-NR2-LS-102371-2
https://bch.cbd.int/en/database/NR3%7D/BCH-NR3-LS-109450-3
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (Party since 10 February 2015, by accession)
Article 29: Monitoring and Reporting
Each Party shall monitor the implementation of its obligations under this Protocol, and shall, at intervals and in the format to be determined by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol, report to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol on measures that it has taken to implement this Protocol.
Reports
https://absch.cbd.int/en/database/NR%7D/ABSCH-NR-LS-248560-1
https://absch.cbd.int/en/database/NR1%7D/ABSCH-NR1-LS-282616-1
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Party since 1 October 2003 by ratification).
Article VIII: Measures to Be Taken by the Parties
- Each Party shall prepare periodic reports on its implementation of the present Convention and shall transmit to the Secretariat:
(a) an annual report containing a summary of the information specified in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 6 of this Article; and
(b) a biennial report on legislative, regulatory and administrative measures taken to enforce the provisions of the present Convention.
Reports
https://cites.org/eng/resources/reports/Annual_Illegal_trade_report
https://cites.org/eng/imp/reporting_requirements/annual_report
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification: (Party since 9 December 1995 by ratification)
Article 6 Strategic planning framework for sustainable development
National action programmes shall be a central and integral part of a broader process of formulating national policies for the sustainable development of affected African country Parties.
A consultative and participatory process involving appropriate levels of government, local populations, communities and non-governmental organizations shall be undertaken to provide guidance on a strategy with flexible planning to allow maximum participation from local populations and communities. As appropriate, bilateral and multilateral assistance agencies may be involved in this process at the request of an affected African country Party.
Strategy/Action Plans
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/naps/Lesotho.pdf
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/naps/2017-08/lesotho-eng2000.pdf
Reports
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/prais-legacy/Lesotho/2010/Lesotho%20-%20ACP%20-%202010.pdf
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/prais-legacy/Lesotho/2012/Lesotho%20-%20ACP%20-%202012.pdf
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/prais-legacy/Lesotho/2014/ACP%202014.pdf
https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/prais-legacy/Lesotho/2018/unccd_Lesotho_2018.pdf
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (party since 8 September 1995, through accession.)
Article 4: Commitments
1(b) Formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national and, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, and measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change;
Article 12: Communication of information related to implementation
In accordance with Article 4, paragraph 1, each Party shall communicate to the Conference of the Parties, through the secretariat, the following elements of information: (a) A national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, to the extent its capacities permit, using comparable methodologies to be promoted and agreed upon by the Conference of the Parties; (b) A general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention; and (c) Any other information that the Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion in its communication, including, if feasible, material relevant for calculations of global emission trends.
NDCs
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-02/Lesotho%20SECOND%20NDC.pdf
NAPs
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NAP_Lesotho_2025.pdf
Reports
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/LESOTHO%20INC.pdf
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NAI_NC3.pdf
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NAI_BUR1.pdf
Stockholm Convention on Pesticides Organic Pollutants (party since 23 January 2002, by ratification).
Article 15: Reporting
- Each Party shall report to the Conference of the Parties on the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of this Convention and on the effectiveness of such measures in meeting the objectives of the Convention.
- Each Party shall provide to the Secretariat:
- a) Statistical data on its total quantities of production, import and export of each of the chemicals listed in Annex A and Annex B or a reasonable estimate of such data; and
- b) To the extent practicable, a list of the States from which it has imported each such substance and the States to which it has exported each such substance.
- Such reporting shall be at periodic intervals and in a format to be decided by the Conference of the Parties at its first meeting.
Strategy/Action Plans
https://chm.pops.int/Portals/0/download.aspx?d=UNEP-POPS-NIP-Lesotho-1.English.pdf
Reports
https://chm.pops.int/Portals/0/download.aspx?d=UNEP-POPS-CB.1-CP-Lesotho.English.pdf
https://chm.pops.int/Portals/0/download.aspx?d=UNEP-POPS-NIP-Lesotho-1.English.pdf
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (party since 23 January 2002, through ratification)
Article 14: Information exchange
1.Each Party shall, as appropriate and in accordance with the objective of this Convention, facilitate:
- (a) The exchange of scientific, technical, economic and legal information concerning the chemicals within the scope of this Convention, including toxicological, ecotoxicological and safety information;
- (b) The provision of publicly available information on domestic regulatory actions relevant to the objectives of this Convention; and
- (c) The provision of information to other Parties, directly or through the Secretariat, on domestic regulatory actions that substantially restrict one or more uses of the chemical, as appropriate.
2. Parties that exchange information pursuant to this Convention shall protect any confidential information as mutually agreed.
3. The following information shall not be regarded as confidential for the purposes of this Convention:
- (a) The information referred to in Annexes I and IV, submitted pursuant to Articles 5 and 6 respectively;
- (b) The information contained in the safety data sheet referred to in paragraph 4 of Article 13;
- (c) The expiry date of the chemical;
- (d) Information on precautionary measures, including hazard classification, the nature of the risk and the relevant safety advice; and
- (e) The summary results of the toxicological and ecotoxicological tests.
- The production date of the chemical shall generally not be considered confidential for the purposes of this Convention.
- Any Party requiring information on transit movements through its territory of chemicals listed in Annex III may report its need to the Secretariat, which shall inform all Parties accordingly.
Reports
https://www.pic.int/Portals/5/download.aspx?d=UNEP-FAO-RC-CC-COP.12-Followup-Lesotho.En.pdf
Minamata Convention on Mercury (party since 12 November 2014, through accession)
Article 21: Reporting
- Each Party shall report to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, on the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of this Convention and on the effectiveness of such measures and the possible challenges in meeting the objectives of the Convention.
- Each Party shall include in its reporting the information as called for in Articles 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of this Convention. 3. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, decide upon the timing and format of the reporting to be followed by the Parties, taking into account the desirability of coordinating reporting with other relevant chemicals and wastes conventions.
Reports
https://minamataconvention.org/en/first-national-short-report-2019-lesotho
https://minamataconvention.org/en/documents/first-full-national-report-2021-lesotho
https://minamataconvention.org/en/documents/second-short-national-report-2023-lesotho
https://minamataconvention.org/en/documents/second-full-national-report-2025-lesotho
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Party since 28 May 2000, through accession)
Article 13: Transmission of Information
- The Parties shall, whenever it comes to their knowledge, ensure that, in the case of an accident occurring during the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes or other wastes or their disposal, which are likely to present risks to human health and the environment in other States, those States are immediately informed.
- The Parties shall inform each other, through the Secretariat, of:
- a) Changes regarding the designation of competent authorities and/or focal points, pursuant to Article 5;
- b) Changes in their national definition of hazardous wastes, pursuant to Article 3;and, as soon as possible,
- c) Decisions made by them not to consent totally or partially to the import of hazardous wastes or other wastes for disposal within the area under their national jurisdiction;
- d) Decisions taken by them to limit or ban the export of hazardous wastes or other wastes;
- e) Any other information required pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article.
- The Parties, consistent with national laws and regulations, shall transmit, through the Secretariat, to the Conference of the Parties established under Article 15, before the end of each calendar year, a report on the previous calendar year, containing the following information:
- a) Competent authorities and focal points that have been designated by them pursuant to Article 5;
- b) Information regarding transboundary movements of hazardous wastes or other wastes in which they have been involved, including:
The amount of hazardous wastes and other wastes exported, their category, characteristics, destination, any transit country and disposal method as stated on the response to notification; The amount of hazardous wastes and other wastes imported, their category, characteristics, origin, and disposal methods; Disposals which did not proceed as intended; Efforts to achieve a reduction of the amount of hazardous wastes or other wastes subject to transboundary movement;
- c) Information on the measures adopted by them in implementation of this
Convention;
- d) Information on available qualified statistics which have been compiled by them on the effects on human health and the environment of the generation, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes or other wastes;
- e) Information concerning bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements and arrangements entered into pursuant to Article 11 of this Convention;
- f) Information on accidents occurring during the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes and other wastes and on the measures undertaken to deal with them;
- g) Information on disposal options operated within the area of their national jurisdiction;
- h) Information on measures undertaken for development of technologies for the reduction and/or elimination of production of hazardous wastes and other wastes; and
- i) Such other matters as the Conference of the Parties shall deem relevant.
Reports
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Party since 21 November 2005, through accession)
Article 17: The Global Information System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
17.1 The Contracting Parties shall cooperate to develop and strengthen a global information system to facilitate the exchange of information, based on existing information systems, on scientific, technical and environmental matters related to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, with the expectation that such exchange of information will contribute to the sharing of benefits by making information on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture available to all Contracting Parties. In developing the Global Information System, cooperation will be sought with the Clearing House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Reports
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (party since 1 July 2004, through accession)
Article 3
1 The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List, and as far as possible the wise use of wetlands in their territory.
- Each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. Information on such changes shall be passed without delay to the organization or government responsible for the continuing bureau duties specified in Article 8.
Article 6
- The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall be competent: e) to request relevant international bodies to prepare reports and statistics on matters which are essentially international in character affecting wetlands;
Reports
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop9-national-reports-lesotho
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop10-national-reports-lesotho
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop11-national-reports-lesotho
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop12-national-reports-lesotho
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop13-national-reports-lesotho
https://www.ramsar.org/document/cop15-national-reports-lesotho
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility was established on the eve of the Rio Earth Summit to tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, it has provided more than US$22 billion in grants and blended finance and mobilized an additional US$120 billion in co-financing for more than 5,200 projects and programs. The GEF is the largest multilateral trust fund focused on enabling developing countries to invest in nature and supports the implementation of major international environmental conventions including on biodiversity, climate change, chemicals, and desertification. Through its Small Grants Programmes (SGP), the GEF has provided support to more than 27,000 civil society and community initiatives in 136 countries. Lesotho has been participating in GEF funded projects since 29 June 1994.
Links
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
- Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Stockholm Convention on Pesticides Organic Pollutants
- Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Head of Division
Mr. Maboi Mahula
Acting Head of Drivision
Division Staff
- Ms. Rorisang Thamae
- Ms. Matsebiso Seantlo