Mashinini, VusiDe Villiers, Gawie2017-09-072017-09-072002Mashinini, I. V., & De Villiers, G. D. T. (2002). Non-governmental organisations and sustainable rural development in Lesotho. Acta Academica, 34(1), 137-157.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6831English: Non-governmental organisations are increasingly considered a viable source of development assistance for the promotion of sustainable development. This article analyses the contribution of non-governmental organisations to sustainable rural development, with special emphasis on agriculture, in Lesotho. The findings are that they have made a significant contribution, but that their efforts were not sustainable, due to the fact that the communities were not willing to forego their old lifestyles and accept the sacrifices needed to achieve the advances introduced by sustainable rural development. Communities need to embrace the challenges and changes aimed at improving their lifestyles.Afrikaans: Nie-regeringsorganisasies word tans toenemend beskou as ’n moontlike bron van ontwikkelingshulp met die oog op die bevordering van volhoubare ontwikkeling. Hierdie artikel ontleed die bydrae van nie-regeringsorganisasies tot die bevordering van volhoubare landelike ontwikkeling, met spesiale klem op landbouontwikkeling in Lesotho. Die bevindinge is dat hulle ’n groot bydrae gelewer het, maar dat die pogings nie volhoubaar was nie, omdat die gemeenskappe nie bereid was om hulle ou lewenswyses te laat vaar en opofferings te maak ten gunste van veranderings wat deur volhoubare landelike ontwikkeling teweeggebring is nie. Dis nodig dat gemeenskappe die uitdagings en veranderinge aanvaar wat nodig is om hul lewensbestaan te verbeter.enNon-governmental organisationsSustainable developmentRural developmentLesothoArticleUniversity of the Free State