Lesotho: UN Agriculture Fund Announces $8.7 Million Programme for Support

The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today announced the launch of an $8.7 million programme aimed at helping some 37,000 poor rural people in Lesotho have better access to financial services.

The effort aims to enable beneficiaries to invest in on-farm or off-farm microenterprises and build their financial and household assets, IFAD said in a news release.

The $10.7 million Rural Financial Intermediation Programme is supported by a $4.35 million loan and $4.35 million grant from IFAD.

"This new programme will help poor rural people access financial services that respond to their specific needs," said Fumiko Nakai, IFAD's country programme manager for Lesotho.