Does Gender Matter in Local Development Priorities? A Study of Four Community Councils in Maseru, Lesotho.

The article examines whether gender influences the prioritization of local development projects by community councillors in Maseru, Lesotho, focusing on four community councils. Despite Lesotho’s adoption of a gender quota system since 2005 ensuring at least 30% female representation, the study found that while both female and male councillors prioritized similar infrastructural needs such as water, roads, and electricity, their motivations differed: female councillors emphasized projects addressing women’s safety, health, and economic empowerment, whereas male councillors focused more on agricultural and male-centered community interests. The research, based on qualitative interviews conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, also revealed that most councillors struggled to achieve their developmental goals due to institutional constraints like limited power devolution and inadequate resources. The study concludes that descriptive representation through gender quotas can enhance substantive representation of women’s interests, recommending reforms to empower female councillors and promote gender equality in public decision-making structures.