Maseru, June 24 – Habitat for Humanity Lesotho on Tuesday convened a National Housing Dialogue in Maseru to validate findings and recommendations of a housing market affordability study aimed at improving access to decent and affordable housing in the country.

Speaking at the dialogue, the Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship, Mrs. Florina Rakeketsi, said housing remains a fundamental human need whose benefits extend beyond providing shelter to supporting economic growth, public health, labour mobility and environmental sustainability.

She noted that Lesotho's housing sector continues to evolve due to population growth, changing family structures, urbanisation and economic factors such as inflation, interest rates and lending trends.

Mrs. Rakeketsi said research plays a critical role in identifying affordability gaps, assessing housing products and developing innovative financing models. She added that research also helps promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient housing solutions.

She said the study comes at a crucial time as the government advances key reforms in the housing sector, including the development of the National Urban Policy, the Lesotho Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy and the proposed Housing Bill.

According to Mrs. Rakeketsi, evidence-based research enables government and stakeholders to better understand the root causes of housing challenges and develop targeted interventions.

She commended Habitat for Humanity Lesotho for sharing the study findings with a wide range of stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, academia and development partners, saying collaborative validation strengthens the quality and relevance of policy recommendations.

Habitat for Humanity Lesotho Board Chairperson, Mr. Lichaba Sekhosana, said despite notable progress in the housing sector, many Basotho families continue to face inadequate housing conditions, high construction costs, limited access to housing finance and insufficient infrastructure.

He said the growing demand for affordable housing, particularly among low and middle-income households, highlights the need for evidence-based solutions.

Mr. Sekhosana explained that the housing affordability study was commissioned to provide a deeper understanding of the country's housing market, identify factors affecting affordability and generate practical recommendations to inform policy, programmes and investment decisions.

He further encouraged financial institutions and other stakeholders to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity, describing the organisation as a valuable source of housing market intelligence and research expertise.

Habitat for Humanity Lesotho Programme Director, Dr. Nicholas Omoding, said the validation process is essential to ensure that the study findings accurately reflect the realities of the housing market in Lesotho.

He said stakeholders were expected to assess whether the research correctly identified the key drivers and barriers to housing affordability, determine whether any gaps remain and evaluate the practicality of the proposed recommendations.

Dr. Omoding said the workshop seeks to build consensus on the findings, strengthen recommendations through stakeholder input, identify priority actions for various sector players and promote stronger collaboration towards a more inclusive and sustainable housing sector.

He stressed that the research should serve as a foundation for informed decision-making, policy development and investment planning rather than being viewed as an end in itself.

The National Housing Dialogue brought together representatives from government ministries, financial institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector to discuss solutions aimed at improving housing affordability and access to adequate housing in Lesotho.