Ireland and Cyprus join forces to help Lesotho

Ireland and Cyprus have joined forces to build a girls’ boarding school in Lesotho, it emerged today.

The Cypriot government has no development aid workers in the landlocked African state and is using the facilities of the Foreign Affairs Department through its Irish Aid section to assist in the project.

A Government spokeswoman confirmed that the partnership was approved by the Cabinet and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Ireland and Cyprus.

Lesotho, which has a population of 1.8 million people and a life expectancy of 37 years, has been receiving Irish development aid since 1975.

Funding for the 2005-2007 period is prioritised for health, education, HIV/AIDS and governance in the country.

President Mary McAleese paid a three-day official visit to Lesotho last June and met government leaders and members of the Irish community.

Lesotho is Irish Aid’s longest running bilateral programme.

The programme is administered by the Irish Embassy, which is based in Maseru, and staffed by an ambassador, a development specialist and four sector advisors.

Irish Aid staff in Dublin also assist in drawing up strategies and preparing project proposals.