GIDRM: Strengthening critical infrastructure resilience through risk-informed development in Lesotho’s water sector

GIDRM aims to strengthen the capacities and skills of selected decision-makers in Southern Africa by making methods for risk-informed development interventions available. In conjunction with the “Integrated Catchment Management” (ICM) project implemented in the SADC region, specifically in Lesotho, GIDRM is piloting a climate risk-assessment tool with the water sector as an entry point for RID. Together with the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) and the Climate Risk Institute (CRI), GIDRM is advancing the use of the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Protocol for the assessment of climate change risks associated with infrastructure assets in the water sector in Lesotho. Additional capacity building measures like technical trainings, stakeholder workshops, and the provision of various related materials, will add to the development of climate-proofing standards for the region and/or sector.

Water is Lesotho’s principal natural resource. It is a vital resource for a wide range of sectors and critical infrastructure services, such as energy, agriculture, and economic production. At the same time, the water sector in Lesotho is exposed and vulnerable to multiple hazards and risks. This is further driven and compounded by climate change, which is expected to push Lesotho into a period of water stress by 2030