Maseru – The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has approved an advance of M1,087,468from the national Contingency Fund to finance Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Justice Nthomeng Majara’s participation in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil.

According to official documents seen by Lesotho Tribune, the approval was signed by the Principal Secretary for Finance and Development Planning on 30 October 2025, and later confirmed by the Minister of Finance on 31 October 2025. The document cites the need for “additional funding to support the Deputy Prime Minister’s participation in COP30, where she will be representing the Prime Minister.”

The contingency fund, established under Section 114(2) of Lesotho’s Constitution, is designed for urgent and unforeseen expenditure not provided for in the estimates. The approved amount for the fund stands at M955,684,354, with M528,824,258 already released to date, leaving a balance of M426,860,096 before this latest allocation.

The warrant, numbered 155 of 2025/2026, authorizes the expenditure under the Prime Minister’s Office, specifically under the vote for “Subsistence (International)”.

The Ministry has not yet issued a public statement on the advance or the total cost of Lesotho’s delegation to COP30.