Qanya Community Council COE

The Qanya Community, located in the mountainous Qacha’s Nek District of Lesotho, is a predominantly rural area encompassing various villages such as Masoabing, Sephokong, Liforanteng, Phuthing, Ha Jobo, and Tlokoeng. Despite the rugged terrain, the community is tightly knit, relying heavily on subsistence farming and traditional livelihoods. Access to public services — from civil registration to local governance — has steadily improved in recent years, with significant efforts made to decentralize government services to reach residents in remote parts of the region. 

The Qanya Council Centre of Excellence (COE) is part of the Gender Links “Centres of Excellence for Gender” programme, which supports local governments in strengthening gender equality, leadership, and service delivery. The Qanya Council joined the COE programme in 2013, and through a structured multiple‑stage process has developed gender action plans, conducted situational analyses, and tracked its progress via scorecards. This initiative has helped the council increase female representation, build capacity among councillors, and raise awareness about the importance of inclusive governance.