Abstract:
Poverty is a multifaceted phenomenon that can be studied from different perspectives and this
study used the ‘lived poverty’ index to study poverty. The purpose behind the study was to
investigate the extent of ‘lived poverty’ in Lesotho as well as assessing the contribution of
conditional cash transfers to alleviating it in Qibing, Mafeteng. The study used sequential
explanatory mixed methods to collect data with quantitative data sourced from the
Afrobarometer round 8 survey. Qualitative data was collected through key informant interviews
and focus group discussions from a sample of 12 participants that was selected through
purposive sampling. While quantitative data was analysed using SPSS 16.0, Qualitative data was
analysed using Atlas.ti. using thematic analysis. The study’s findings showed that Lesotho has a
significant amount of ‘lived poverty’ with income poverty, water insecurity, and food insecurity
being the most rampant components concentrated in rural areas and affecting mostly females
than males. The findings further revealed that conditional cash transfers contributed to ‘lived
poverty’ alleviation by addressing two components, income poverty and food insecurity
providing beneficiaries with stipends and training beneficiaries on food preservation. The study
recommends that the government and NGOs come up with projects that aim to alleviate ‘lived
poverty’ in rural areas targeting most females.
