The role of decentralisation and local governance in advancing sustainable development: A Lesotho perspective

Decentralization and local governance are increasingly seen as indispensable strategies for achieving sustainable development in Africa. In Lesotho, a country marked by socio-economic disparities, geographic inaccessibility, and institutional fragilities, the localization of development efforts offers a unique opportunity to enhance community empowerment and policy responsiveness. This paper investigated the role of decentralized governance in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Lesotho. It addressed the gap in the literature by centering local governance not just as a structural reform, but as a people-oriented political and developmental imperative. Employing a qualitative, interpretative methodology grounded in Afrocentric and participatory approaches, the study drew on documentary review, policy analysis, and community perspectives to evaluate Lesotho’s decentralization framework. The study found that while decentralization in Lesotho has normative potential to facilitate sustainable development, its effectiveness is undermined by fragmented implementation, weak fiscal autonomy, and limited civic engagement. The analysis underscored the need to reimagine decentralization beyond administrative de-concentration, towards a transformative model rooted in accountability, subsidiarity, and traditional legitimacy. The study concluded that a developmental state in Lesotho must not only devolve power but also cultivate participatory, locally grounded governance systems that are capable of addressing poverty, inequality and environmental sustainability from the ground up.