A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in 25% fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Management (in the field of Public and Development Management), 2016 / Financial inclusion has taken centre stage in the development agenda in the 21st century. This was widely noticed after the global economic meltdown in 2008 where multinational companies faced bankruptcy and many people were negatively impacted. Financial inclusion is defined as being the state in which all people have access to appropriate and desired financial products and services. It is believed to be a key component of the financial sector and has been hailed by its proponents to be a positive driver of economic growth and poverty reduction. Financial inclusion is anchored on one pivotal concept which is financial literacy, or the ability of individuals to use knowledge and skills gained from financial education for betterment of their lives. The significance of financial inclusion has been acknowledged by many countries and Lesotho is no exception. The Support to Financial Inclusion in Lesotho (SUFIL) project was implemented with the aim of improving financial inclusion in Lesotho. This research was undertaken to ascertain the extent to which the SUFIL has achieved its aims and objectives. Overall, while there are some areas that require review or improvement, the project has had a positive impact in improving financial inclusion in Lesotho. / XL2018

In the UNDP Report of 2008, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, Millennium Development Goal (MDG3), has been declared not only as the main developmental objective but also a fundamental mode of attaining the entire MDGs. This study examines women’s experiences of economic empowerment projects in the era of escalating female household heading and relentless poverty in Lesotho. It particularly focuses on women participating in crafts projects initiated for income generation, in the context of gendered spaces. A growing body of literature asserts that Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) is a potential route out of abject poverty, especially for the economically marginalised women in Female- Headed Households (FHH). A case study focusing on women participants in Teya-teyaneng crafts of Berea district in Lesotho was carried out. Semi-structured interviews were employed to explore the potential of participation to yield positively for empowerment in the scenario of informal economy. Findings from the two units within the single case utilised revealed that empowerment remains to be one of the entangled processes of economic development. It is highly subjected to social, political and economic procedures operating in a country. The study further revealed that economic empowerment of women participating in income generating projects is considerably constrained by the patriarchal and globalised economic set ups that women operate within. The case of Elelloang Basali illuminated that adherence to contemporary strategies of economic empowerment is a beneficial ingredient, contrary to the operations of Setsoto Design. Recommendations ultimately forwarded highlight the significance of macro-economic policy to pay attention to the assertion that WEE is not merely a path out of poverty but an intrinsic entity of employment-led-growth. This also hints on policy for broad-based growth that can be countercyclical for the economy of the country. The paper serves to articulate a dire need for shift from reluctance to responsiveness for those with political and economic will power. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.