LocationsFrom Vision to Investment Readiness: Lesotho’s SMEs Take the Lead on Impact and Sustainable Growth
March 17, 2026
UNDP SDG Investment and Impact Management Analyst, Omar El Fakharany, speaking to GSIV participants.
From 24 to 26 February 2026, the halls of Sebopi–UniPod in Maseru came alive with the energy of ambition, innovation, and purpose. UniPod, another UNDP flagship initiative, has long been more than a physical workspace. It is a dynamic ecosystem where innovation is nurtured, ideas are incubated, and young enterprises are transformed into impact-ready ventures. For the three days, nine carefully selected small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participated in an intensive Impact Management and Measurement (IMM) Training, designed to equip them with the skills and tools needed to grow sustainable, impact-driven businesses. This training was more than an educational programme it was a transformative journey that positioned Lesotho’s SMEs to deliver measurable social, environmental, and economic impact, while attracting investment and scaling solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The training was officially opened by the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Lesotho, who highlighted the importance of building investment-ready SMEs capable of contributing to inclusive growth. Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Department of Private Sector Development, signaling the government’s recognition of sustainable SMEs as critical drivers of Lesotho’s economic resilience.
UNDP Lesotho Deputy Resident Representative Taye Amsallu giving a welcome message to the gathered participants.
Through UNDP’s technical experts, participants were introduced to globally recognized impact management frameworks and practical tools used by investors to assess sustainable enterprises. Complex concepts around impact measurement were made accessible, enabling SMEs to align their business models with the SDGs while strengthening transparency, credibility, and investor readiness. By the end of the training, participants gained practical knowledge on how to measure, manage, and communicate their social, environmental, and economic impact in ways that resonate with global investors.
The nine SMEs participating in the training represented a diverse and vibrant spectrum of Lesotho’s entrepreneurial talent: Bertlex and Printer, Iconics Clothing, Jalad Africa, Mahleseli Energy, Med‑iQ Nutraceuticals, Moamak Trading, Pay Lesotho, Riverside Fresh Farm Produce, and Semomotela S’MOO Cosmetics. Their industries spanned textile manufacturing, PPE production, leather processing, off-grid energy solutions, pharmaceutical manufacturing, rural connectivity through emerging technologies, digital payment systems, egg production, and beauty product manufacturing. This diversity fostered rich learning, encouraging participants to exchange insights, tackle shared challenges, and discover potential collaborations within and across sectors.
The training was made possible through the Growth Stage Impact Venture (GSIV) programme as a pathway to implementing the SDG Investor Map. GSIV, part of UNDP’s flagship SDG Pipeline Builder initiative, identifies high-potential, growth-stage enterprises offering scalable solutions to the SDGs while maintaining commercial viability, translating the priority investment opportunity areas identified in the SDG Investor Map into a pipeline of investable enterprises.
From the outset, the training was designed to be practical, hands-on, and transformative. On Day One, participants explored the foundations of sustainability and impact, engaging in debates, teamwork exercises, and reflections that clarified the differences between sustainability, SDGs, ESG principles, and impact management. Entrepreneurs mapped their value chains, identified stakeholders, and assessed both the positive and unintended effects of their operations. By the end of the day, participants had set concrete impact goals not merely as exercises, but as commitments to operate more responsibly and strategically.
Day Two focused on equipping participants with the tools and methodologies used by global investors to assess impact. SMEs were introduced to frameworks such as IRIS+ and learned how to select tailored indicators that are practical to track while providing credible evidence of impact. The training emphasized that impact is an ongoing management practice, not a one-time task, reinforcing how continuous measurement and reporting build investor confidence and strengthen business growth.
On Day Three, participants explored the differences between impact reporting and sustainability reporting and examined six foundational principles of strong impact reporting: demonstrating purpose, setting clear objectives, aligning actions, showing results, providing evidence, and sharing lessons learned. The day also featured a session by the Central Bank of Lesotho on the Maseru Stock Market, demonstrating that with strong financial statements, consistent profitability, and structured growth plans, SMEs could access capital markets and scale their businesses turning long-term ambitions into tangible opportunities.
The final presentations brought the three-day journey to a full circle. Entrepreneurs articulated their challenges, proposed solutions, mapped their stakeholders, and outlined how they would measure and communicate their impact. Beyond the technical learnings, participants forged new connections, recognized shared struggles, and discovered opportunities for collaboration embodying UniPod’s ethos of growing together, not in isolation.
As the training concluded, UNDP Resident Representative in Lesotho Dr. Jacqueline Olweya delivered the closing remarks, commending participants for their commitment to building businesses that generate both financial returns and measurable social impact.
UNDP Lesotho Resident Representative Dr. Jacqueline Olweya giving closing remarks.
"The future of sustainable development will increasingly be shaped by entrepreneurs who are willing to build businesses that create both economic value and positive impact for society," said Dr. Jacqueline Olweya. "Through initiatives such as the Growth Stage Impact Venture programme, UNDP will continue to support investor engagement and matchmaking opportunities, including participation in investment platforms and potential investor conferences. These engagements will connect you with investors seeking opportunities that deliver both financial returns and measurable impact."
Her message underscored a powerful truth: the work SMEs began within UniPod will continue far beyond its walls. With upcoming investor engagement platforms and conferences, these entrepreneurs are now positioned to present impact-driven, investment-ready business models to local and international investors seeking measurable returns and sustainable development outcomes.
The training equipped SMEs not just with knowledge, but with confidence, networks, and ambition to scale responsibly. These entrepreneurs leave the Sebopi UniPod as impact leaders, ready to shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Lesotho.
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