The Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology (MEM) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) call for Investment Proposals is part of the implementation of the “Development of Cornerstone Public Policies and Institutional Capacities to Accelerate Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Progress” Project in Lesotho. The project aims to catalyse investments in renewable energy-based mini-grids and Energy Centres, to reduce GHG emissions and contribute to the achievement of Lesotho’s Vision 2020 and SE4All goals. Further, the project will create a favourable legal, regulatory and market environment and build institutional, administrative and technical capacities to promote rural energisation through isolated mini-grids and Energy Centres. The project designed a Financial Support Scheme (FSS) and appointed United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) as the Fund Manager to manage and disburse grants for private developers in order to kick start the market for the renewable energy technologies and minimise the risk associated with capital investment.

UNCDF makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.