Locations
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. The Sebabatso Initiative has two streams: Innovators and Entrepreneurs.
This year, applications for both initiatives are in the same application form.
We're going on the road!
Need a hand with your application? Want to learn about STEAM and Sebabatso in person?
Members from the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development and UNDP will be in your area soon.
We also have enumerators based in all ten districts who can assist with your application. These enumerators are working with us through the Hands of Life Cycling Centre.
Below are the names and districts for the enumerators. To get in contact with an enumerator you may email tsepo@handsoflifecycling.org or contact +266 5022 7391.
We'll be in Mokhotlong 20 - 21 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Tebello Letela
Ntsoeleng Mafatlane
Thato Ntaole
We'll be in Qacha's Nek, 21 - 22 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Bonang Phatela
Itumeleng Hlephe
Khotsofalang Shale
Reitumetse Kori
Itumeleng Mothibeli
Makarabelo Mohapi
Masheane Chaka
We'll be in Leribe, 23 - 24 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
'Mathapelo Mary Fobo
Mokoa Lesetla
We'll be in Quthing, 23 - 24 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Nthabeleng Makhetha
Mokete Phate
Keletso Moorosi
We'll be in Thaba-Tseka, 27 - 28 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Moliehi Mosheshe
Makoabola Mathapholane
We'll be in Mohale's Hoek, 27 - 28 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Puseletso Tebelo
Shoaepane Mohale
We'll be in Mafeteng, 29 - 30 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Tlhokomelo Mohapi
Mpho Jone
Ntili Posholi
Karabo Tauhali
Hlompho Mahao
We'll be in Berea, 30 - 31 July!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Kananelo Mokhele
Lineo Marake
Hape Patricia Sabole
Tebello Sesinyi
We'll be in Maseru, 3 - 4 August!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Moipone Lerotholi
Tshepang Chao
Phumzile Sebota
We'll be in Butha-Buthe, 11 - 12 August!
The enumerators you may reach out to in this area are:
Masefotsane Matjelo
Hopolang Senkoto
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. This initiative is implemented by UNDP and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development.
Entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 – 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 in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation 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 - Friday, 14th August 2026 at 12:00PM SAST (UTC+02:00).
Frequently Asked Questions
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lesotho with the Government of Lesotho – Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTCI), and the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development.
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, 31st July 2026 at 12:00PM SAST (UTC+02:00).
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 is below:
Mokhotlong: 20 - 21 July / Phupu
Qacha's Nek: 21 - 22 July / Phupu
Leribe & Quthing: 23 - 24 July / Phupu
Thaba-Tseka & Mohale's Hoek: 27 - 28 July / Phupu
Mafeteng: 29 - 30 July / Phupu
Berea: 30 - 31 July / Phupu
Maseru : 3 - 4 August / Phato
Butha-Buthe: 11 - 12 August / Phato
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.
