The Government of Lesotho and the United Nations Development Programme have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing digital transformation and artificial intelligence development following high-level bilateral talks held at the UNDP Headquarters in New York on May 8, 2026.
The meeting brought together officials from Lesotho’s Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI) and senior UNDP representatives, including Aissata De, to review ongoing collaboration on innovation, technology-driven development and sustainable economic growth initiatives.
A major highlight of the discussions was the proposed establishment of an AI Academy in Lesotho, an initiative aimed at strengthening digital skills, expanding technological capacity and preparing young people for opportunities in the global digital economy.
Both parties also explored plans to expand the country’s innovation support framework into a broader acceleration model inspired by Timbuktoo, a pan-African platform focused on entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems and digital talent development across the continent.
UNDP commended the leadership of Lesotho’s government for the progress recorded in advancing the country’s digital transformation agenda and reiterated its commitment to supporting national development priorities through technology and innovation.
The organisation stressed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence remain critical to driving inclusive economic growth, improving public service delivery and unlocking new opportunities for sustainable development.
The Lesotho delegation included Kanono Ramashamole and Matete ‘Nena, with both sides describing the meeting as another important step toward deepening strategic cooperation on digital innovation and AI development in the country.
