GFA starts new GIZ project in Lesotho on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Economic Partnership Agreement
GFA Consulting Group is partnering with GIZ on an initiative that supports Lesotho’s economic growth and job creation by unlocking opportunities in regional trade. GFA’s mission is to empower the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Business Development (MTIBD), as well as local businesses, to boost exports and increase their competitiveness in selected industries.
While MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) are the backbone of Lesotho's economy, driv-ing employment and local production, they face significant challenges such as high production costs and low value-added manufacturing.
“Our work aims to address these barriers through tailored technical expertise, training, and capacity-building”, says Franziska Ulrich, consultant at GFA’s Private Sector Development Department The project also places a special emphasis on considering the specific skills and needs of women and youth to participate meaningfully in trade and business.
Here’s what the project is focusing on:
- Targeting agro-processing (e.g., indigenous herbs, spices, rosehip) and light industry (e.g., duck and goose feathers), which hold untapped potential to create jobs, foster innovation, and expand exports.
- Enabling MSMEs to manage selected value chains, meet international market requirements and leverage digital services to unlock new trade opportunities.
- Supporting Lesotho’s efforts to integrate more effectively into regional and global value chains, leveraging trade agreements to their fullest potential.
