Volunteer statistics (ILO)*
Source: ILOSTATS. The data is collected by ILO from national statistical offices. As national statistics on volunteer work are produced using a variety of approaches and tools, direct and cross-country comparisons are not recommended. For more information, visit https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/volunteer-work/
No data
Measurement work
No data
Laws, Policies, Schemes on Volunteering
Does the country have a piece of legislation on volunteering?
No data
Does the country have a national policy, scheme, plan or strategy specific to volunteering?
Yes
| Name of specific policy, strategy or plan on volunteering at the national level. | Year created | Source link | What are the relevant SDG areas/crosscutting themes of the policy, plan scheme or strategy? |
|---|---|---|---|
National Graduate Volunteer Scheme / National Volunteer Corps |
2009 | No data |     |
Does the country have a sectoral and cross-sectoral policy, scheme, plan or strategy that mentions volunteering?
NoVNR Reporting
The Kingdom of Lesotho Voluntary National Review on the Implementation of the Agenda 2030 Report 2019
View source
Reporting positive contribution of volunteering to the SDGs
Paragraph 1, page 21
3.2.4 Volunteers for the SDGs. The Government recognizes volunteers as critical partners for the implementation of the 17 SDGs. This is seen as a strategy to promote broader national ownership, a human rightsbased approach, gender equality, participation, inclusion and sustainability. Over 100 young Basotho volunteered and offered services during the VNR 2019, including mobilization, advocacy, and participating in consultation workshops. The GoL’s recognition of the value addition of volunteer action dates back to 2009 as demonstrated through the development and implementation of the National Volunteer Corps for young graduates’ project. This project enabled the country to retain new graduates from universities and vocational training institutions. Additionally, the intervention has impacted YESly on employment opportunities, sustainable livelihood, household security, natural resource and environmental management.
Paragraph 2, page 22
With about 38 percent of the population of Lesotho between the ages of 15 and 34 years, policies and programmes targeting youth are crucial as national strategies to ensure that no one is left behind in development planning and implementation. In 2015, a volunteer programme that is aimed at enhancing youth engagement in development frameworks enabled young people’s involvement especially in the hard to reach rural communities. Furthermore, the programme enabled the country to leverage volunteer involving structures and networks to improve their collective contribution, inputs and coordination on the implementation of various SDGs. From 2015, through formal and non-formal structures, volunteers have been mobilized and are active across different development sectors and are contributing to various SDG related programmes. For example, 64 UN Volunteers have supported SDG related programmes in rural areas while community based volunteers, are the pillars for preventative health, hygiene, water and sanitation and food security interventions, which are critical sectors linked to SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Paragraph 3, page 73
4.5.9 Volunteers for the SDGs The Government recognizes volunteers as critical partners for the implementation of the 17 SDGs. This is seen as a strategy to promote broader national ownership, a human rightsbased approach, gender equality, participation, inclusion and sustainability. Over 100 young Basotho volunteered and offered services during the VNR 2019, including mobilization, advocacy, and participating in consultation workshops. The GoL’s recognition of the value addition of volunteer action dates back to 2009 as demonstrated through the development and implementation of the National Volunteer Corps for young graduates’ project. The volunteer database now has a total of 12,191 registered applicants among which to date 1,799 have been placed in different ministries while 9,824 await placement. The pool is bulging every year as more pool of graduates are registering whilst the absorption only guarantees 104 of the total number of volunteers budgeted under Government every financial year. This project enabled the country to retain new graduates from universities and vocational training institutions. Additionally, the intervention has impacted YESly on employment opportunities, sustainable livelihood, household security, natural resource and environmental management.
Paragraph 4, page
With about 38 percent of the population of Lesotho between the ages of 15 and 34 years, policies and programmes targeting youth are crucial as national strategies to ensure that no one is left behind in development planning and implementation. In 2015, a volunteer programme that is aimed at enhancing youth engagement in development frameworks enabled young people’s involvement especially in the hard to reach rural communities. Furthermore, the programme enabled the country to leverage volunteer involving structures and networks to improve their collective contribution, inputs and coordination on the implementation of various SDGs. From 2015, through formal and non-formal structures, volunteers have been mobilized and are active across different development sectors and are contributing to various SDG related programmes. For example, 64 UN Volunteers have supported SDG related programmes in rural areas while community based volunteers, are the pillars for preventative health, hygiene, water and sanitation and food security interventions, which are critical sectors linked to SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 6.
No mentionKingdom of Lesotho - Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals Report
View sourceLesotho
View sourceReporting positive contribution of volunteering to the SDGs
Reporting on volunteering connected to matters of gender equality, women's empowerment or similar
Paragraph 1, page 12
Lesotho’s SDG implementation relies on strengthening domestic financing, leveraging international support, building institutional capacity, improving data systems, and promoting partnerships and volunteerism.
Paragraph 2, page 12
Capacity-building is supported by IMF, MEFMI, and others, but decentralised institutions face human resource and infrastructure constraints. Statistical Systems are improving via NSDS II and PARIS21, with innovations in citizen-generated and gender data. Gaps remain in environmental and disaggregated statistics. Volunteerism is promoted through youth apprenticeship programmes, community health initiatives, and CSO-led projects.
Paragraph 3, page 72
6.6. Mainstreaming of Volunteerism in National Policies and Strategies
Volunteerism plays a vital role in Lesotho’s progress towards the SDGs. Key policies, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Policy (2011) and the National Youth Policy, explicitly promote volunteer participation. The DRR Policy encourages the recruitment of community volunteers for preparedness and emergency response and aligns with the Disaster Management Act (1997), which established local disaster teams that work with volunteers.
The National Youth Policy supports skills development through the Youth Apprenticeship and Public Works Programme (2020), a 12-month national service programme offering stipends and practical experience to tertiary graduates. This complements the earlier National Volunteer Corps (2009), which offered work-based learning for graduates across sectors.
Initiatives like the Lesotho Youth Power Hub, supported by the EU, UNICEF, and IOM, strengthen youth and CSO engagement. NGOs such as Skillshare Lesotho recruit and train volunteers as peer educators and data collectors, contributing to health and community programmes. Volunteerism is also integral to health service delivery. Village Health Workers (VHWs), recognised under the National Health Policy, provide essential services in rural areas and are gradually being formalised into the health system. Organisations such as Peace Corps, Carewell, and Touching Tiny Lives also engage volunteers in areas such as HIV prevention, literacy, and child nutrition.
While policy integration of volunteerism can be strengthened, Lesotho has made considerable strides. Government-led initiatives, especially at community level (e.g. District and Village Disaster Management Teams), illustrate growing institutional support for volunteerism. Expanding and coordinating these efforts can enhance the country’s capacity to address challenges including poverty, health disparities, climate change, and education gaps. Volunteerism is increasingly acknowledged as a key enabler of SDG implementation in Lesotho.