Gender Links Lesotho (GLL) has been awarded a grant by the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Lesotho under the project “Local Action for Gender Justice in Lesotho: Transforming Gender Norms and Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws for Inclusive Protection Across Lesotho”
A central pillar of this action is the update of the GBV Indicators Study first conducted in 2013. That baseline study revealed extremely high prevalence rates of violence: 86% of women reported experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime, and 40% of men admitted to perpetrating violence. Yet, in the ten years since, no follow-up national study has been undertaken. This lack of up-to-date, reliable data has hindered effective programming, limited accountability, and left national policies and resource allocations dependent on outdated statistics
The new EU-funded study will therefore generate fresh evidence on the prevalence, causes, effects, costs, response, and prevention of GBV, thereby providing Lesotho with a critical evidence base to reinvigorate the national campaign to end GBV
The Second GBV Indicators Study, planned for 2025, will be implemented by GLL in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, the Bureau of Statistics, and other key national stakeholders. The research will employ a comprehensive mixed-methods design, including:
- Household prevalence and attitudes surveys administered to a nationally representative sample of men and women aged 18 years and older;
- Qualitative “I Stories” narratives documenting the lived experiences of survivors and perpetrators of GBV;
- Administrative data review of police, health, court, and social service records;
- Economic costing analysis to estimate the direct and indirect financial burden of GBV; and
- Political discourse analysis of public pronouncements and commitments on GBV
This integrated methodology will not only update prevalence statistics but also provide insights into gender attitudes, service delivery effectiveness, and the economic and social costs of GBV. The findings will inform the strengthening of local GBV Action Plans in 30 councils, reinforce national policy responses, and support Lesotho’s commitments under the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
To successfully deliver this work, GLL will recruit 100 Field-Based Data Collectors, drawn from across the ten districts of Lesotho. These individuals will play a vital role in administering household surveys, supporting qualitative components, and ensuring accurate and ethical data collection. Their work will underpin the credibility, rigor, and national ownership of the study’s findings.
Applications must be submitted to Gender Links Lesotho no later than 26th September 2025.