The government’s Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) project held a special media workshop to familiarise journalists with its goals, operations and components.
The one-day workshop at Avani Maseru was attended by at least 30 journalists from radio stations, newspapers, TV and digital media platforms.
There were presentations from managers of the subcomponents, with special emphasis on the project’s broader impact on communities, sectors and the whole economy.
The managers also explained the strict policies and transparent processes used to select the beneficiaries of the various projects under CAFI.
CAFI Project Manager, Chaba Mokuku, said the workshop was a platform to enhance the journalists’ understanding of the project so they can objectively inform the public about its implementation and impact.
“We want to take the media along on this exciting journey of implementing this project. The success of this project depends much on how its objectives, implementation, progress and impact are communicated to the nation,” Mokuku said in his opening remarks.
“This is the beginning of a sustainable partnership based on mutual trust and the common purpose of building Lesotho’s economy. Transparency and accountability are key aspects of the CAFI project.”
Mokuku said “the project needs the support of a well-informed media to inform the public about its implementation, components and impact on individuals, communities, sectors and the entire economy”.
He said the project will provide quarterly updates on implementation, showcasing progress and impact.
“We are also exploring ways to build capacity in the media in terms of economic and business reporting.”
The US$52.5 million CAFI project is funded by the World Bank and the Lesotho Government. It is founded on three mutually reinforcing pillars: Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Resilience of MSMEs, Scaling Support for Entrepreneurship and MSMEs, and Project Management Support.
