Government, in partnership with the United Nations (UN), this week hosted a five-day high-level policy and capacity building workshop on the National AI Strategy and Data Centre Blueprint, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a digitally enabled, inclusive and resilient economy.
The workshop which started on Monday and ends today, bought together senior government officials, development partners, the private sector, academia and civil society to advance Lesotho’s digital transformation agenda and lay the foundations for responsible artificial intelligence governance and national digital infrastructure development.
The workshop explored the development of a national AI strategy alongside a blueprint for sovereign data centre capacity.
The initiative builds on Lesotho’s recent validation of three landmark digital governance policy frameworks: the Draft Artificial Intelligence Policy, the Draft Data Management Policy, and the Draft Broadband and Shared Infrastructure Policy. Together, these policy instruments provide the foundation for a modern digital ecosystem that promotes innovation, safeguards rights, strengthens public service delivery and enhances economic competitiveness.
Opening the workshop, Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara underscored the importance of ensuring that Lesotho approaches artificial intelligence with ambition and mindful of its national development priorities.
Majara said AI is no longer a distant concept, as it is rapidly becoming the infrastructure of modern technology in societies. It is changing the way institutions and the private sector deliver services as well as how businesses operate, students learn, health services are provided, economies grow and communities communicate.
“Lesotho must not merely ask what AI can do for us, but also what kind of a country we would want AI to help us build. This is the question which should guide our deliberations this week,” she noted.
The Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Nthati Moorosi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing policies, institutions and partnerships necessary to position Lesotho as a competitive digital economy while ensuring that AI is deployed responsibly and for the benefit of all Basotho.
On his part, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Richard Ramoeletsi underscored the strategic importance of international cooperation and partnerships in advancing national digital ambitions.
He indicated that it was crucial for the country to develop a national data centre roadmap.
UN Resident Coordinator, Taija Kontinen-Sharp reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Lesotho’s digital transformation journey, emphasising that artificial intelligence represents much more than a technological advancement.
“Artificial intelligence is not simply a technology issue, it is a development issue. The decisions we make today will shape how Lesotho strengthens public institutions, creates opportunities for young people, delivers better public services and builds a more resilient economy.” she added.
As countries around the world seek to leverage emerging technologies to accelerate sustainable development, Lesotho is positioning itself to harness the opportunities of AI while building the governance structures, infrastructure and human capacity needed to manage associated risks responsibly.
The workshop represents an important step towards strengthening national digital sovereignty, enhancing service delivery, fostering innovation, creating economic opportunities and advancing the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
