Litsoetse Community Council COE

Litsoetse is a community council in the mountainous Thaba‑Tseka District of Lesotho. As one of the local administrative units in this rural district, Litsoetse plays a critical role in grassroots governance, overseeing basic services such as water supply, rural infrastructure, land allocation, and environmental conservation within its jurisdiction. Its territory includes scattered villages typical of high‑altitude Lesotho, and its remote location presents both logistical challenges and community resilience in addressing local development needs.

The Litsoetse Community Council COE refers to its participation in Gender Links’ Centre of Excellence (COE) for Gender in Local Government programme. In May 2013, Litsoetse held a Stage 5 workshop in which the 17 councilors and staff engaged in gender‑planning modules covering topics like economic development, HIV/AIDs, care work, and gender-based violence.This process is part of a structured, multi‑stage journey to mainstream gender into council decision-making: through training, action planning, and institutional change, Litsoetse Council has worked to embed gender-aware policies, improve gender budgeting, and align its local governance practices with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.