Latest developments
March 2010
The working group work plan for the next period was presented to the Executive Committee.
Lesotho Work Plan 2010
February 2010
The draft workplan was sent out for comments to the entire working group. Cathy Dix was confirmed as the new chair of the working group.
January 2010
Cathy Dix, the temporary chair of the working group, and Dorothee Baumann, the MFA country program manager, visited Lesotho to meet with the local stakeholders and ensure their commitment to the MFAF. They meet with all the key stakeholders in-country and in a local steering committee meeting, they draft a workplan for 2010 with four priority issue areas (1) Market Access, (2) Environment, (3) Coordination, (4) Communication. The MFAF’s
trip was coordinated with a visit of the ILO Better Work team. The Better Work Program will be launched in Lesotho in mid-2010.
December 2009
In December, the Lesotho working group experienced its first Steering Committee meeting without Neil Kearney. The Lesotho Ambassador in Washington DC, David M. Rantekoa, updated the group on the latest developments around the trade preference negotiations in the US Congress.
November 2009
The working group met at the MFA International Convening in London and discussed the priority issues of its future work. Neil Kearney, the chair of the working group, highlighted that the commitment to the MFAF’s work is the group’s greatest asset. The future of AGOA and the development of the European market is still regarded as the most critical issues for the future of the garment industry in Lesotho.
Later that month, Neil Kearney tragically died during a business trip in Bangladesh. To ensure the continuity of the MFAF’s work, the MFAF Secretariat consults with the major stakeholders and nominates Cathy Dix from Gap as the temporary chair of the group.
October 2009
The first teleconference with the Lesotho Steering Committee took place. All participants confirmed their strong commitment to the work of the MFA Forum and draft a detailed agenda for the face-to-face meeting at the International Convening.
July 2009
The MFA Forum is pleased to confirm the members of the new Lesotho Working Group Steering Committee.
- Buyer US: Cathy Dix (for Gap Inc.)
- Buyer Europe: Chris McCann (Asda/Wal-Mart)
- Trade Union (global): Neil Kearney (ITGLWF)
- LTEA: Moroesi Akhionbare
- ILO: Amy Luinstra and Laetitia Dumas
- Lesotho Government: Mary Motebang (Deputy Director of Marketing at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Marketing and Cooperation)
- High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho in London: His Royal Highness Prince Seeiso Bereng
- Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Brussels: Her Excellency Mamoruti Tiheli
July 2009
The Secretariat was informed by the ILO Better Work (BW) team that funding for the Better Work project has been secured for an initial two years through the US Department of Labor. Further funding opportunities that would allow an extension of the project are currently being explored. The ILO anticipates that the final project documents outlining the work for Lesotho will be ready to circulate this fall. They will also be advertising and securing a country manager by the end of the year. Work will commence Q1 2010.