Lesotho, like other low-income countries around the world, has been hit the hardest economically by the novel Covid-19 pandemic. The consequences of policies like the “hard lockdown”- imposed to contain the virus by flattening the curve and off-loading pressure on hospitals, have had far-reaching economic ramifications beyond just the social isolation.

For poorer countries whose economies are highly reliant on small businesses, hard lockdowns mean the closure of all non-essential businesses, and the unintended consequences of this measure have put huge pressure on an already struggling economy and have exacerbated the high poverty and unemployment rates.

The challenges in the construction industry include an increase in the prices of building materials as well as lack of availability of the required materials due to border closures. In Lesotho, most products and especially building materials are imported from South Africa. According to the Assessment of the Socio-Economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Kingdom of Lesotho by UNDP, the pandemic is expected to induce price increases of merchandise due to disruptions to business operations because of limited stock and the non-availability of alternative supply sources.

More challenges faced by businesses of all sectors and sizes can be heard in the discussion from our recent Webinar on The Impact of Covid19 on the Built Environment, between Geoffrey Green from MAPEI South Africa, Sue Zenha from Neill Powell Neill Architects, and Mokhethi Rampeta from Lerotholi Polytechnic in Lesotho. 

With an unemployment rate of almost 30% before the pandemic, the true economic cost of the unintended consequences of a hard lockdown on the relatively small economy of Lesotho is yet to be assessed. However, what is more important now is what the government and civil society organizations are going to do to mitigate the damage caused to the economy by the lockdown.

Survival strategies for small businesses

According to the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics Business Register (2014), MSMEs account for 76 per cent of the private sector economic activities largely in the informal sector. Self-employment is also a dominant form of employment in MSMEs and the informal economy. MSMEs provide jobs to 118,130 Basotho of whom 59 per cent are women and 83 per cent are self-employed owners.

However, most small businesses have been affected by lockdowns imposed by Covid-19, resulting in many closing down, while some have had to take cost-cutting measures such as lay-offs in order to survive.

While it is nearly impossible to plan for events such as a global pandemic, it is important for small business owners to be more aware of their surroundings, unique skills and their differentiating offering. Small business owners should rather be encouraged to explore partnerships, technology, and other resources that allow them to pivot and reinvent themselves in order to remain relevant in a world that has changed overnight.

It may be difficult to explore new opportunities while trying to do damage control from losing employees, customers, and revenue, but here are 3 tips on how to do just that:

1. Where possible small business owners can opt for technology to provide services. Social media and other online platforms have made it easier to reach out to customers. For regular and loyal customers, entrepreneurs just have to reach out to them in order to maintain their relationship and remain top of their customers’ mind in order to keep the orders coming in. For new customers, a low-cost social media marketing strategy can be very effective.
2. Entrepreneurs may have to work around the clock in order to keep their customers’ trust, and still maintain social distancing. Working in shifts will help keep employees and customers safe while keeping the business wheels turning. Entrepreneurs will need to keep up with the trends in order to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. There may be some technological advancements and changes in customer needs that business owners need to be aware of. This may mean having to pivot for some businesses, while some only need to incorporate these innovations in their existing business.

Entrepreneurs will need to think outside of the box before they reach out for outside resources as captains of their own ships. But there are resources available.

Mitigation strategies by the government and other stakeholders

According to UNDP’s Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Covid-19 in Lesotho, the growth projection was revised downwards from 0.4 per cent in May 2020, to -5.1 per cent in 2020/2021, due to the impact of COVID-19. This means that the country’s leaders have to find a way to mitigate the economic losses of the lockdown.

Lesotho recently pledged M350 million (Approx $22m) through Government financial support through the National Economic Stimulus Package on the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Finance and Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) have signed an MOU authorizing LNDC to issue guarantees worth up to M350 million intended to support Basotho-owned businesses seeking loans from commercial banks under the newly restructured Covid-19 Response Partial Guarantee Scheme launched by Lesotho’s Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro.

However, the government alone cannot revitalize the economy. The importance of MSMEs in business development has come to the forefront to help take on the responsibility of job creation, restructuring the business sector to weather the uncertainties of the new economic reality we live in.

rise: in loco and Enterprise Hub

rise International, through its in loco program, is helping mitigate the effects of the virus on employment by recruiting young entrepreneurs in the built environment taking them through a ‘learning by doing’ fellowship, equipping the participants with skills and hands-on experience in order for them to be better placed to start their own businesses. The fellowship includes an intense 6-month business training and professional development program that equip the fellows with skills and resources to tackle the crisis of youth unemployment. Once graduated from the fellowship, the Pioneers commence a 3-year business incubation program and gain access to ongoing professional development, business coaching, professional networks, mentorship and market. So far out of the 35 in loco graduates, 16 have started businesses which have created jobs for 29 others. The Pioneers have experienced an average monthly income increase of 56.7%.

rise continues to find creative and smart business solutions to address the challenging business environment. The organization is also fundraising for the development of an Enterprise Hub (E-Hub), a physical place where entrepreneurs can work, produce, collaborate, ideate, continue their professional development and build business relationships. The E-Hub will promote innovative thinking, stimulate creativity and design, as well as promote ethical business practices. The incubatees will be inspired to come up with innovative and creative ways in architecture, sales and marketing, delivery of services and products, and partner with entrepreneurs from across the globe to brainstorm ways on how to address the impact of the pandemic on small businesses.

As Lesotho keeps going in and out of varying degrees of lockdowns, small businesses continue to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Until an effective measure to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 is put into place, the way businesses operate and their costs of doing so will continue to be affected.

Apart from the assistance that they will get from the Lesotho government, rise International and other MSME service providers,, entrepreneurs need to think outside the box now more than ever to weather the pandemic. They need practical advice on managing effective decision making, such as marketing rigorously, bringing on partners and employees, networking with key players in the industry, and managing risks.

Lesotho needs to put these ideas into place, even more now that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the business landscape,  making small businesses even more vulnerable as they battle a constant state of damage control. Entrepreneurship is challenging and Covid-19 has proved to be the greatest challenge. Small businesses will need strategies to adapt to the changes taking place and be ready for the unforeseeable future.

Community driven development empowers people by giving responsibility to the community.
By virtue, this allows community members to work together and take a vital part in decision making. In so doing, opportunities are built, people’s voices are strengthened allowing them to freely demand greater accountability of the institutions that are relevant to their livelihoods, and to promote sustainable development. rise international prides itself in providing linkages to skills and resources where and how they are needed. rise believes that merely giving what you think will “help” may not help at all. That is why a community driven development approach is fundamental in all the projects carried out by rise.

This time last year in 2019, rise international, in partnership with Possible Dreams Foundation, piloted a program with a rural community in Lesotho called Ha Sekants’i. As a means to tackling economic and infrastructural needs that the community identified as priorities, through the construction of a pedestrian bridge in collaboration with a group of international volunteers from Malta, sponsored by an international development company called J Portelli Projects.

This footbridge helped the community gain safe access to health care services, the market and also enabled children to get to school without having to go through the river which is menacing and at times impossible when it rained or snowed. With the help of community members and the guidance of the Roads Directorate, rise was able to construct the bridge in just two months

The community of Ha Sekants’i remain proud of the footbridge. It has become their reminder of the power of the Letsema concept – an African tradition of volunteering one’s labor to community projects. 
“We are pleased that through this partnership we finally have a footbridge. I am 86 years old now, I really never thought this would happen in my lifetime” – Abiel Khanyapa, Ha Sekants’i community member.

Alkire et al., (2001) demonstrated that by directly relying on communities to drive development activities, community driven development has the potential to make poverty reduction efforts more demand responsive, more inclusive, more sustainable, and more cost effective than traditional centrally led programs, thus increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts. We can proudly attest to this statement.

One year on, the community of Ha Sekants’i has developed vastly. The only rural village in Lesotho with a permanent outdoor photo exhibition. Ha Sekants’i has become a popular destination for visitors looking for an authentic eco-experience. In collaboration with Possible Dreams Foundation, the Ha Sekants’i community is now raising funds to construct a community learning centre in the village.

Photo credit: Justice Kalebe

Catch up on the project on this link https://www.youtube.com/watchv=BiinzFnQ9OU