Purpose

Lesotho is the water tower of Southern Africa.

Its river catchments capture billions of litres of rainfall each year, feeding rivers that sustain Lesotho and downstream communities in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

These catchments are vital to livelihoods, economies and ecosystems across the region – but they are under increasing threat from land degradation.

ReNOKA (“We are a river”) is Lesotho’s national response. Led by the Government of Lesotho and driven by citizens, ReNOKA brings together communities, institutions and practitioners across the Orange-Senqu River Basin to protect and restore land and water for shared, long-term prosperity.

A systems approach to land and water

ReNOKA promotes a new way of thinking – recognising land, water, people, animals and infrastructure as one interconnected system that must be managed collectively.

Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) means managing land, water and livelihoods across a river basin in ways that are sustainable for current and future generations.

ReNOKA’s vision is to advance integrated, sustainable and risk-informed catchment management that conserves biodiversity, land, and water while strengthening climate resilience.

This approach supports healthier ecosystems, improved water quality and stronger urban and rural livelihoods – benefiting Lesotho, the Orange–Senqu basin and the wider Southern African region.

To realise these benefits, action must be coordinated. ReNOKA fosters cooperation and partnerships among all stakeholders, working together for long-term impact.

Learn more about ReNOKA’s approach in our Learning Laboratory.

ReNOKA objectives:

To establish sustainable management of water and land resources
To ensure that people living in Lesotho and neighboring countries have quality water for use at home, in agriculture and industries
To restore Lesotho’s land and water resources
To prevent future land degradation and soil erosion
To contribute to increased resilience to climate change

ReNOKA key principles are:

Cooperation in the implementation of sustainable water and land use policies and practices
A partnership approach among government bodies, private sector, civil society, communities and international partners
Civic participation
Promotion of equal and balanced use of resources
Promotion of transparent and empowering governance

Why the ReNOKA movement matters

The Orange-Senqu River is one of Southern Africa’s most important water systems, supporting the livelihoods of 19 million people through drinking water, farming and hydropower.

In Lesotho, subsistence and livestock farming remain central to household income and culture. With two-thirds of the country made up of mountains, many Basotho farm on steep slopes, increasing vulnerability to soil erosion. Population growth is placing further pressure on limited land and increasingly degraded soil.

Climate change is intensifying these challenges. More frequent floods, storms and prolonged droughts are accelerating erosion, landslides and gully formation, threatening both livelihoods and water security.

But Lesotho’s mountains are also its strength. The highlands act as a natural water tower, capturing rain and snow that feed the rivers serving Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

Discussions often focus on huge infrastructure investments in dams and pipelines to export water to neighboring countries. Exporting water is a significant revenue for Lesotho. To be able to export water in future, Lesotho cannot only build grey infrastructure but needs to invest in green infrastructure, too. Protecting and restoring catchments, for example through rotational grazing or terracing, is essential.

Change that ReNOKA aims to achieve

Catchment management and rehabilitation

Coordinate the restoration of degraded catchments through targeted rehabilitation and long-term management plans that address unsustainable land use, thus strengthen climate resilience and support local livelihoods.

Policy and institutional governance

Align policies, legislation and institutional mandates to enable coordinated, effective catchment management across sectors and levels of government.

Financing arrangements

Establish sustainable financing mechanisms that mobilise national and international public and private investment for catchment restoration and management.

Skills and knowledge for practitioners

Build skills across communities and institutions – from practical, community-based training to specialised academic programmes – to support sustainable land and water management.

Data and research

Strengthen data, research and learning to inform decision-making, drive innovation and direct resources to the most effective catchment interventions.

Climate resilience

Embed climate risk management into catchment planning and management, promoting resilience through risk-informed approaches and nature-based solutions.

Transboundary cooperation

Advance cooperation across the Orange–Senqu basin, recognising that restoring catchments in Lesotho benefits all riparian states.