From 10–14 August 2026, the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS), under the leadership of Moahloli Ntele, Head of Research and Innovation Development, convened the National Stakeholder Mapping Workshop for Action-Based Forecasting (ABF) in Maseru.

This milestone event, part of the WISER ActionFirst Lesotho Co-production Project supported by the UK Government’s FCDO, brought together national institutions, humanitarian partners, academia, civil society, and community representatives to design a more inclusive and people-centred early warning system.

Key Achievements

• Established a shared national understanding of the transition from hazard-based to impact-based and action-oriented forecasting.
• Mapped stakeholders, roles, and communication pathways across the forecast-to-action value chain.
• Strengthened collaboration among LMS, DMA, ministries, local authorities, media, mobile operators, and humanitarian partners.
• Mainstreamed gender, disability, and social inclusion to ensure warnings reach all communities.

Challenges Identified

• Limited capacity to translate technical forecasts into simple, actionable messages.
• Gaps in last-mile communication for remote and vulnerable communities.
• Resource constraints at district and community levels.
• Need for stronger institutional coordination and advanced forecasting technologies.

Future Priorities

• Operationalising the national stakeholder engagement framework and forecast-to-action roadmap.
• Expanding dissemination channels through radio, mobile networks, and community structures.
• Strengthening coordination between forecasting and disaster response institutions.
• Advancing technical cooperation with the UK Met Office to access high-resolution forecasting guidance.

This workshop marks a significant step toward building climate resilience and protecting lives and livelihoods in Lesotho.