The basis and rationale for CARE's work in South Africa and Lesotho are programmatic theme areas identified as being significant and relevant across the two countries and impact on poor and vulnerable populations.

The programmatic areas that CARE Lesotho-South Africa selected to work with were informed by the challenges identified through a 2001 joint strategic planning event. Four major themes were defined which were common across the regional geography, which include:

• Economic empowerment
• Rural livelihoods and Asset Security
• Inclusive and Democratic Governance
• HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support

1. The development of materials, methods and new approaches
2. Building capacity of service-oriented organisations
3. Influencing decision-making constituencies through effective advocacy
4. The development of market linkages
5. Strengthening Civil Society Organisations to deal with gender and rights issues
6. Providing specialist services, where other service providers are either absent or ineffective, on a contractual basis.
7. Mobilising resources to support unique programmes and innovative service provision.
8. Investing in research and development of new approaches and towards support organisational evolution.

Work within these programmatic themes has been operationalised through a set of strategic objectives which provide the direction for CARE's operations in Lesotho and South Africa, while guiding decision-making, informing investment and influencing the structure and operations. Read more:

These themes build on CARE's long-range strategic directions and niche within the two countries. They are based on its experience in this and other regions in the developing world, and development priorities and trends. Within these themes CARE seeks to add value through partnerships with like-minded programmes and/or organisations and mainstream its programming principles, based on Household Livelihood Security and Rights-based Analysis, gender and diversity and advocacy.