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STEAM/Sebabatso 2026
The Prime Minister's Vanguard Initiative for Youth Empowerment, known as Sebabatso, was launched in October 2023 to address youth unemployment and limited economic opportunities in Lesotho.
Now in it's fourth year, the Government of Lesotho and UNDP Lesotho are excited to announce that applications are open for Sebabatso 2026 cohort.
Sebabatso focuses on removing barriers that hinder youth-led enterprises from growing into sustainable businesses by strengthening entrepreneurship, improving access to markets and finance, and building the capacity of young innovators. This program is delivered with the STEAM Initiative, implemented in collaboration with UNDP Lesotho and the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation. The STEAM Initiative promotes innovation and creative problem-solving.
This year, applications for both initiatives are in the same application form.
What is Sebabatso?
The Prime Minister's Vanguard Initiative for Youth Empowerment, Sebabatso, aims to accelerate the growth and scaling of youth innovations and businesses.
Entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 – 35 are encouraged to apply with their projects that encourage or contribute to national development.
You should apply for Sebabatso, as an Entrepreneur, if you have an existing business that needs an extra push to grow, level up, achieve the next stage of your business plans. We will want to know what is unique about your business and how it is positively impacting on local communities.
Entrepreneurs in Sebabatso will receive training and support that removes potential barriers to growth for their businesses. They will have improved access to markets and finance, undergo capacity building, and come out as stronger entrepreneurs.
Sebabatso is a call to young Basotho: urging them to rise, innovate, and drive the nation's future.
You can be from any of the 10 districts in Lesotho, from any background, gender, stage of career to apply as an Entrepreneur.
What is STEAM?
The STEAM Initiative, STEAM, is a project led by UNDP Lesotho that sits under the Sebabatso banner. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
It is an initiative that promotes innovation and creative problem-solving. Innovators aged 16 and up are encouraged to apply with their innovative ideas. These ideas need to do the following:
- Address a development challenge in Lesotho
- Contribute to the National Stage Development Plan II and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Align with priority sectors – mining, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, technology, health, transportation, energy and finance
- Fit into at least one STEAM category – science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Applicants can apply as an individual or as a group.
You can be from any of the 10 districts in Lesotho, from any background, gender, stage of career to apply as an Innovator.
Apply for Sebabatso or STEAM before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lesotho with the Government of Lesotho – Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTCI) & the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation.
We are looking for Basotho aged 16+ for STEAM (Innovation) and 18 – 35 for Sebabatso (Entrepreneurship).
You can be from any of the 10 districts in Lesotho, from any background, gender, stage of career.
We are looking for passionate entrepreneurs and innovators to be involved in Sebabatso and STEAM respectively.
Sebabatso is the stream for Entrepreneurs – focusing on young entrepreneurs (aged 18-35) that want support and to be championed to transition their small-scale or social ventures into sustainable, capital-driven businesses. This is for people who already have a business and want to grow it.
STEAM is the stream for Innovators – those aged 16 and up who use their knowledge in science, mathematical, technical, art and/or engineering to solve the problems facing today’s society. STEAM is for local change makers, individual innovators, awesome teammates, who want to solve the pressing development challenges in Lesotho and work towards NSDP II and SDG objectives.
Through our application form! This year applications for Sebabatso and STEAM are in the same place.
Read through the information, attend a roadshow, have your questions answered and your information ready before heading online to fill out your application.
Application form is here: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/SP6Vrt6u
The deadline is Friday, 24th July 2026.
Sebabatso and STEAM always has and always will be free to apply for. We do not endorse, authorize, or have partnered, with any consultants to charge monies for filling out application forms or offer advice from previous winners.
If you need assistance filling out your application, please contact UNDP and we will be able to assist.
Participation in Sebabatso and STEAM is completely free – from the application to the bootcamps to everything else required.
Yes, we are! A full calendar of our roadshows will be released very soon. Keep an eye on our social media platforms and in your local community centres to find out when and where we’ll be.
We would love to hear from you! We’re on the lookout for passionate people, businesses, organisations, teams, who want to lend a hand to support these incredible programs and champion the future innovators and entrepreneurs of Lesotho.
If you would like to offer assistance or learn more about getting involved, email us at lsprocurement@undp.org with the subject title 'SEBABATSO Assistance'.
If the answers aren’t here, ask us! We’re available during the week to answer all your questions about Sebabatso and STEAM.
We’ll also be doing #AMAs every couple of Fridays to answer all your Sebabatso and STEAM related questions.
You can also email us your questions about STEAM at email at lsprocurement@undp.org or WhatsApp us at +266 62818 064.
For Sebabatso email at sebabatso.youthconnekt@gov.ls or WhatsApp them to +266 5388 8365.
