UK in Lesotho

The British High Commissioner H.E. Martine Sobey paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Honourable Limpho Tau. The meeting marked a renewed chapter in the long‑standing partnership between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The meeting focused on shared priorities from economic development, trade, multilateralism, climate resilience, and deepening people‑to‑people ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration that supports Lesotho’s growth and strengthens regional stability.

This engagement signals a positive step toward even closer cooperation between the two nations, grounded in mutual respect and a shared vision for sustainable development.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Lesotho

The High Commissioner H.E. Martine Sobey today visited Motebang Hospital in Leribe, where Welsh doctors are currently serving under the Welsh Government’s Global Health Programme. This partnership is dedicated to strengthening primary care and advancing global health capacity.

The doctors observed clinical practice, engaged with Motebang Hospital teams, and witnessed firsthand how this collaboration is enhancing skills, improving patient‑centred care, and deepening international health cooperation.

The visit reaffirmed the strong ties between Lesotho and Wales and the shared commitment to building resilient, equitable health systems that benefit communities in both nations.


Lesotho Ministry of Health

🌟 Celebrating British and Basotho Excellence!!

Yesterday, we honoured two remarkable women whose leadership, service, and vision are transforming communities.

🇬🇧 Honouring Jan Jeffrey — MBE Recipient

Jan Jeffrey has been awarded the prestigious Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her outstanding contribution to community health through the Physiotherapy Outreach Programme (POP).
Her work has brought life‑changing rehabilitation services to underserved communities, ensuring that physiotherapy is not a privilege but a right.

Her impact doesn’t end there. Under her leadership, POP recently launched an Assistive Technology Centre in Leribe, a first-of-its-kind hub providing mobility aids, adaptive devices, and specialised support for people living with disabilities. It is a hub for capacity building with technical knowledge to ensure sustainability. This centre is already becoming a beacon of dignity, independence, and inclusion for families across the district.

Jan’s recognition is not just a personal honour; it is a celebration of every volunteer, therapist, caregiver, and community member who has walked this journey with her.

👑 Celebrating Ms Tleetse Phakoe — Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Trust Young Leader Awardee

We also proudly celebrate Ms Tleetse Phakoe, honoured by the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Trust (QECT) for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to empowering women and girls.

As the founder of the Women Initiative Lesotho Organisation, Ms Phakoe is building pathways for young women to access mentorship, leadership training, entrepreneurship support, and community development opportunities.
Her work is equipping a new generation of Basotho women to lead boldly, advocate fearlessly, and transform their communities from within.

Her recognition by QECT places her among a global network of young changemakers shaping the future of the Commonwealth — and she carries Lesotho’s flag with grace and purpose.

🌍 A Moment of National Pride

These two honours remind us that leadership is not defined by titles, but by service. That impact is built one community at a time.

Congratulations to Jan Jeffrey, MBE, and Ms Tleetse Phakoe, QECT Young Leader. Your work inspires a nation.

Lesotho Government
The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust
Ministry Of Health Lesotho - International Health Regulations

Last week marked an important milestone for Lesotho’s cultural and knowledge ecosystem with the official launch of the Lesotho National Digitisation Framework, developed in partnership with the National University of Lesotho Library (NUL).

The launch brought together a powerful community of leaders and practitioners committed to safeguarding Lesotho’s heritage for future generations. We were honoured by the presence of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Honourable Ntate Maqelepo, whose leadership underscored Government’s commitment to cultural preservation in the digital age.

Guests also included Ms Cécile Communal, Head of the International Office at British Library; whose academic and institutional leadership was central to this journey. We were also proud to stand alongside key partners including Morija Museum & Archives and the National Library, and state library representatives; institutions that are the custodians of Lesotho’s collective memory.

Beyond policy and frameworks, the event celebrated people. Participants who have invested their time and skills in digitisation were awarded certificates, recognising their growing expertise and their role as pioneers in protecting and sharing Basotho knowledge, history, and creativity through digital means.

This initiative reflects the strength of UK–Lesotho collaboration on cultural heritage preservation, grounded in knowledge exchange, mutual respect, and long-term institution building.

Together, we are helping strengthen local capacity, improve standards, and ensure that archives, libraries, and museums are better equipped to preserve their collections, expand access, and tell Lesotho’s story to the world.

Digitisation is not just about technology — it is about ownership of history, visibility of culture, and empowerment of institutions. We are proud to support Lesotho as it lays the foundations for a more accessible, resilient, and future-facing cultural heritage sector.🇱🇸🇬🇧

Lesotho Government
Ministry Of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation
NUL Research and Innovations


Library�

✨ Celebrating Lesotho’s young leadership! 🇱🇸✨
The British High Commission is proud to congratulate Ms Tleetse Ada Phakoe — Founder & Director of Women in Leadership (WIL) — on being spotlighted as a QECT 100 Young Leaders Awardee 2026 🎉
Founded in 2022 and formally registered in 2023, WIL is a grassroots, women‑ and youth‑led organisation advancing gender justice, climate action, accountable governance and WASH, with a strong focus on rural women, youth and marginalised communities across Lesotho.
This special recognition by The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust marks 100 years since the birth of its Founding Patron, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and honours young leaders who believe — as she did — in the power of youth to shape a fairer, more resilient future 🌍💚
We look forward to supporting these changemakers as they continue to drive impact locally and across the Commonwealth.

 GenderJustice


The British High Commission is proud to congratulate Ms Tleetse Ada Phakoe – Founder & Director of Women in Leadership. A grassroots, women and youth-led organisation established in 2022 and formally registered in 2023. Through WIL, she leads community‑driven action at the intersection of gender justice, climate justice, accountable governance, and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) with a strong focus on empowering rural women, youth, and other marginalised groups across Lesotho.

Due to her incredible work, The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust had spotlighted her as QECT 100 Young Leaders Awardee(s) 2026 from Lesotho

As part of this special initiative marking the 100th birthday of our Founding Patron, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we celebrate young leaders who embody her belief in the power of youth to shape a more inclusive and resilient future.

These inspiring changemakers are driving impact across key areas including education and employability, environment, health, food and agriculture, and inclusion.

We look forward to supporting their journeys as they continue to create meaningful change within their communities and beyond.


UK in Lesotho The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust NUL Research and Innovations

Launching the National TB Caucus

We were pleased to support the launch of Lesotho’s National TB Caucus, bringing together parliamentarians to strengthen political leadership in the fight against tuberculosis.

The Caucus signals a shared commitment to place TB high on the national agenda—strengthening oversight, supporting evidence‑based policy, and championing the voices of affected communities.

Ending TB requires sustained political will, collaboration and accountability. Today’s launch is an important step forward. 🇱🇸🇬🇧