The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, reflects on how a coordinated national response to gender-based violence (GBV) is strengthening protection systems and expanding support for survivors across the country. Drawing on the establishment of Lesotho’s first integrated multipurpose centre for survivors, she highlights how decisive leadership, strong partnerships and effective coordination can turn political commitment into dignity, safety and long-term resilience for women and children.
When Amanda Khozi Mukwashi first arrived in Lesotho, she was confronted with the severity of the country’s GBV crisis. While the statistics were alarming, it was the many untold personal stories behind the numbers that carried the greatest weight. Each figure represented a woman or child whose safety, dignity or future had been compromised, underscoring the urgent need for action.
Lesotho faces one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. An estimated 86 per cent of women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and the economic cost of GBV exceeds 5.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product each year. This loss is comparable to nearly the entire national budget for primary and secondary education, threatening progress across multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, health, justice and gender equality.
The crisis was further compounded by a lack of safe spaces for survivors. In 2023, the roof and ceiling of the only fully functioning shelter in Maseru collapsed, reducing national shelter capacity to fewer than 15 survivors. What could have deepened vulnerability instead became a catalyst for change. In response, the United Nations supported the development of Lesotho’s first integrated multipurpose centre for survivors of GBV, marking a significant step forward in national protection efforts.
The collapse of the old shelter exposed weaknesses in the protection system but also triggered a whole-of-society response. The Vodacom Foundation reached out immediately, and a multisector meeting was convened that brought together government institutions, the private sector, civil society and the UN. The Cabinet approved the repurposing of an abandoned compound, engineers were deployed by the Ministry of Public Works, the Defence Force provided labour, ministries aligned essential services, Her Majesty the Queen mobilised philanthropists, private companies supplied materials, and civil society organisations contributed legal and psychosocial support. What emerged was a collective effort far stronger than any single actor could have achieved alone.
The reformed UN Resident Coordinator system played a critical role in translating coordination into action. UN agencies worked as one team alongside national partners to ensure the Centre met the needs of survivors. UNFPA helped design services around dignity and protection, UNICEF strengthened child-friendly spaces and supported the integration of early learning services into the national system, WFP ensured food support for children, and WHO and UNAIDS helped establish a health centre linked to government medical services. This unified approach demonstrated the impact of strong government leadership combined with coordinated international support.
Innovation also proved that effective solutions do not need to be complex. To address funding constraints, an Adopt-a-House model was introduced with UNFPA’s support, allowing partners to finance individual housing units based on their capacity. The Vodacom Foundation funded the first two houses, enabling progress without waiting for large, consolidated funding packages. The model offered a transparent, inclusive and nationally owned financing approach well suited to Lesotho’s context.
Crucially, the Centre recognises that safety alone is not enough. Long-term recovery requires economic independence. Alongside safe housing, health care, and psychosocial and legal support, the Centre includes a skills and innovation hub focused on digital skills, vocational training and access to work. Economic dependence often forces survivors back into abusive situations, and empowering women with income-generating skills is central to breaking that cycle. One young survivor from the former shelter used her training to secure employment and support her siblings, illustrating how stability can restore dignity and opportunity.
By transforming an abandoned site into a place of protection and possibility, Lesotho is giving hope a tangible home. The Centre is expected to accommodate around 100 women and children, significantly expanding national protection capacity. While the work is ongoing, the collective commitment behind it demonstrates the power of leadership and partnership in the face of crisis.
In a world marked by overlapping emergencies, choosing hope—and building systems that sustain it—remains one of the most powerful acts of all.
