The International Development Initiatives (IDI)-Lesotho is a registered non-profit organization under the Ministry of Trade (Reg. 69110, TIN – 200094636-4).
Founded in 2019, IDI is dedicated to empowering vulnerable groups, particularly youth and women, across all ten districts of Lesotho. With a team of development professionals, a Board of 11 members, and 4 active staff, IDI collaborates closely with women’s groups and community associations.
At IDI, we offer comprehensive solutions designed to empower children, youth, and communities to overcome poverty and thrive. Our services are rooted in a community-centered approach, ensuring that the people we work with are active participants in identifying and solving their challenges.
A world where effort transform lives, eradicate poverty, and enabling communities to unlock their full potential.
IDI is committed to partnering with children, youth, and communities to identify and address the root causes of poverty. Our community-driven approach seeks to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance overall well-being.
- Partnership: Collaborate with children, youth, institutions, and government entities to develop sustainable solutions for community development.
- Accountability: Ensure transparency in managing resources and demonstrate our impact with clear evidence.
- Responsiveness: Design initiatives that are directly informed by the needs of the communities we serve.
- Collective Solutions: Co-create solutions with community members to address poverty and promote well-being.
- Empowerment: Equip local leaders and organisations with the tools to combat poverty effectively.
- Community Support: Foster a culture of “neighbor helping neighbor” to strengthen community ties.
PROGRAM PILLARS
Livelihoods
Focus on job creation and skills development for children and youth, including school dropouts.
Mental Health
Integrate mental health support into all programs, ensuring holistic community development.
Migration and Peacebuilding
Address migration challenges and foster peace within
communities.
Human Rights
Advocate for human rights, ensuring equal access to resources and
opportunities.
Technical Community Immersion (TECOI)
Provide internships and volunteer opportunities for graduates, emphasizing environmental sustainability.
Climate Change and Environmental Conservation
Promote climate-smart practices and renewable energy solutions, such as solar power.
Public, Community, and Private Sector Partnerships
Collaborate with various
stakeholders to enhance support for youth and climate initiatives.
The International Development Initiatives – Africa (IDI) operates with three country offices located in Lesotho, Botswana, and Uganda.
The Regional Office is headquartered in Lesotho at Plot 1431, Liboxi, Thetsane, Maseru 100.
Our unique selling point lies in the integrated approach we take to addressing poverty and unemployment while fostering environmental stewardship and mental well-being. Unlike many organizations that tackle these issues in isolation, IDI’s strategy is deeply rooted in community-driven, collective solutions. By combining livelihood development, mental health support, climate-smart agriculture, and human rights advocacy, we ensure that our programs are holistic and sustainable.
Our strength is in empowering communities to analyze and address their own problems, encouraging local ownership and lasting change. Additionally, our strong partnerships with both public and private sectors, combined with our innovative programs like Technical Community Immersion (TECOI) and solar energy projects, distinguish us from competitors. These initiatives offer youth practical skills while contributing to environmental conservation, tackling unemployment, and promoting peace.
With ongoing projects supported by international partners like the New Zealand Embassy and Waka-Waka Foundation Netherlands, we bring global resources to local communities. Moreover, we are expanding beyond Lesotho and Botswana, into Eswatini and Tanzania, showcasing our capacity to adapt and scale our solutions across the Southern African region.
Our focus on the mental health of youth within all our programs further sets us apart, recognizing that emotional well-being is just as critical to community development as economic empowerment. We transform challenges such as waste and environmental degradation into opportunities for income generation, fundamentally reshaping how communities perceive their environment. These aspects make IDI unique in its approach to development.