United Nations in Eswatini

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Eswatini:

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Publication

31 July 2026

Sisonkhe Newsletter - July 2026

SISONKHE (We Are Together) is published by the United Nations in the Kingdom of Eswatini under the technical leadership of the UN Communications Group (UNCG), which comprises communications focal points from all UN agencies in Eswatini, together with the Editorial Team of the Resident Coordinator’s Office.

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Publication

01 April 2026

UN Eswatini 2025 Annual Results Report

This report captures the collective contribution of the UN system, working hand in hand with the Government and people of Eswatini and development partners, to accelerate progress in the sprint to 2030. The year 2025 unfolded in a complex, often unpredictable global and national landscape. Domestic structural economic vulnerabilities, tightening global financing conditions and the now almost predictable climate variability, continued to shape the context in which we operated. In this context, the United Nations in Eswatini focused on strengthening integrated, systems-oriented support, prioritizing interventions that both address immediate needs, while unlocking institutional and systemic bottlenecks. In the agri-food sector, efforts to strengthen value chains and market access improved the livelihoods of smallholder farmers while advancing climate-smart agricultural practices. Investments in health, education, and social systems contributed to improved service delivery, supported by strengthened national policies, enhanced workforce capacity, and better use of data for decision-making. Expanded social protection and nutrition programmes reached vulnerable households and children, helping to cushion the impacts of economic and climate-related shocks. At the same time, support to and advocacy for legislation, policies and follow-up on commitments ensured continued progress in governance, human rights, and climate action. A major investment and milestone in 2025 was the completion and launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030 through an iterative and a highly consultative process involving Government, the private sector, civil society, academia, and international development partners. This inclusive process helped to align synergies and commitment to drive collective action in the last five years of Agenda 2030. As we enter the final stretch toward 2030, the imperative is clear: to do the utmost to deliver greater impact with greater efficiency. We therefore stepped in 2026 with clarity on what we must do: leverage collective strengths among the UN, Government, the private sector, development and civil society partners, focusing on fewer, transitional, high-impact priorities, and aligning resources to achieve them. It also calls for new approaches that ensure that every amount brought on board is an investment that must produce returns. The achievements in 2025 were made possible, primarily through the strong partnership with His Majesty’s Government. The United Nations in Eswatini is deeply grateful for the leadership, collaboration, and openness that underpinned our shared efforts in 2025. We particularly appreciate the personal attention of His Majesty King Mswati III in the work of the United Nations. We further extend our sincere appreciation to development partners, both local and international, for their unwavering support despite the pressures on resources. The progress reflected in this report demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration, adaptability, and shared purpose. At the same time, it underscores the urgency of the task ahead.Enjoy the read!George Wachira, UN Resident Coordinator

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31 July 2026

Governing AI: Ensuring Innovation Serves Humanity

I was recently privileged to participate in three landmark global gatherings on artificial intelligence (AI) in Geneva: the AI Governance Global Dialogue, the AI for Good Global Summit, and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event. Together, these forums brought governments, technology leaders, researchers, civil society and the United Nations together to grapple with one of the defining questions of our generation: how do we ensure that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies serve humanity?A Moment of Promise and CautionI returned from Geneva with feelings of excitement and concern.Excitement at AI’s extraordinary potential to improve lives. Every discussion and exhibition revealed breakthroughs that, only a few years ago, would have seemed unimaginable. Capabilities are expanding not over decades, but months, transforming healthcare and education, increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening disaster preparedness, improving public services and accelerating scientific discovery. Indeed, the World Bank’s 2026 World Development Report focuses on ‘The Promise of Artificial Intelligence’ and argues that AI can help developing nations achieve a century of progress in just a decade provided developing countries make the right investments in infrastructure, electricity and digital skills.But I also returned deeply concerned. Not because AI itself is something to fear, but because technological progress may be advancing faster than our systems to safely harness and govern it. The AI Governance ImperativeAI governance is not simply a technological debate; it is a matter of safety, human agency and, ultimately, human rights. The real question is whether our institutions, laws and systems of international cooperation can evolve quickly enough to ensure that AI remains safe, inclusive, beneficial to everyone and environmentally sustainable.In thinking about AI safety, I find everyday analogies useful. We board a Kombi, put our children on a bus or drive onto a busy road with confidence because we rely on agreed and globally recognizable rules - the traffic code. While human error and mechanical faults can and do cause costly failures, these rules provide an agreed basis for accountability and improving safety. The same applies to aviation: we board aircraft because we trust the rules governing the industry globally. Without the layers of safety and coordinated regulation governing the industry, flying would be a death wish.Given the tremendous impact of AI and other emerging technologies, it should not be left unregulated or solely to voluntary self-regulation by the companies developing them.Concerns about human oversight, safety, privacy, accountability, cultural and linguistic biases or exclusion, and data inaccuracies, are real and urgent. While a single global regulator or universal model may still be some distance away, interoperability among national, regional and international frameworks is an important starting point. These frameworks must work together, uphold shared principles and respect different legal systems and national priorities. Ultimately, however, we must work towards a global framework. The urgency is clear: just days after the Geneva conferences, at least two leading AI companies reported experiencing troubling failures, including models circumventing instructions, breaking away and hacking into other systems, including ‘hijacking’ a website, all the while unnoticed by their handlers until week and months later. A few years ago, this would have sounded like science fiction. Now it is real.While many countries remain cautious about multilateral governance and favour greater national control, AI presents challenges no country can address alone. From cybersecurity and misinformation to cross-border data flows, the risks – and opportunities – extend beyond borders. Multilateral cooperation is therefore not optional; it is indispensable.There is also the critical environmental dimension. AI depends on computing power, requiring significant energy, water and infrastructure. The recently released United Nations University report titled "Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water, and Land Footprints," reveals the sheer amount of electricity and water needed to drive AI, as well as the resultant carbon footprint. The report prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to launch the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative which seeks to have AI companies publicly disclose their full carbon, water, and land footprints, while committing to power all data centers with 100% renewable energy by 2030.For countries such as Eswatini, where large-scale computing capacity may be limited, we must consider not only how we can harness the power of AI, but also remain fully engaged on global platforms about the safe, secure and sustainable deployment of AI. Inclusivity: Africa Must Help Shape the FutureDigitalization is one of six investment pathways identified to accelerate the SDGs and is particularly expected to help bridge development gaps by harnessing technology to widen inclusion. Yet current AI trends challenge this assumption. As the UN Secretary-General reminded us at the AI Governance Global Dialogue: “The computing power, the data and the talent behind the most advanced systems are concentrated in a handful of companies, and in a handful of countries. Most nations, including many developing countries, have had no say in decisions that will shape their futures.” Indeed, AI computing capacity is highly concentrated, with over 90% located in only two countries. The World Bank World Report cited above proposes an optimistic path where countries can adapt low-cost AI tools to local contexts rather than focusing on setting up expensive models of their own. Such local adaptation must go together with the positioning of indigenous languages and knowledge and the inclusion of cultural diversity that are currently absent from training data.Furthermore, for Africa, while adaptation may be a starting point, efforts must continue to move beyond being viewed as a market, to becoming a partner in shaping the technological future that it wishes to adapt. Investment in digital infrastructure, connectivity, research and skills, alongside stronger regulatory institutions will be key in ensuring safe adaptation and narrowing the digital divide.A Governance Response for EswatiniThe emerging concerns point to the importance of strengthening governance at the national level. For Eswatini, this journey is already underway: the country is developing a National AI Strategy, aligned with the African Union’s vision and Eswatini’s domestic development agenda. The country is also advancing a combined Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolution Strategy, aimed at enabling Eswatini to leapfrog developmental gaps and position its economy for the future.At the same time, Eswatini is strengthening its legal and institutional environment to support the responsible adoption of AI. Existing instruments, including the Data Protection Act, the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act and the Electronic Transactions Act, provide an important baseline, while work towards dedicated AI governance provisions will help address the specific opportunities and risks presented by increasingly powerful technologies.The objective should not be to slow innovation, but to create the conditions for responsible innovation to thrive. As Prime Minister Russell Dlamini emphasized at the AI Governance Global Dialogue, effective AI governance must strike a careful balance: regulation must protect without stifling innovation. The goal is to establish “smart, forward-looking regulatory frameworks” that encourage innovation while safeguarding citizens.Such a framework should help ensure that AI is directed towards Eswatini’s development priorities. Whether in healthcare, education, agriculture, public administration or employment, the objective should be to use technology to improve lives while ensuring meaningful human oversight where decisions affect people’s rights and opportunities.Importantly, this journey cannot be undertaken by Government alone. The private sector, academia, civil society, young people and development partners all have a role to play in shaping Eswatini’s approach to AI. And as AI governance continues to evolve globally, the country should ensure that its national framework is forward-looking and remains connected to regional and international discussions.Human Rights by DesignThe United Nations has consistently advocated for AI that is safe, human-centred, rights-based and inclusive. Through the Global Digital Compact, Member States have committed to ensuring that digital technologies advance sustainable development while protecting human dignity, equality and fundamental freedoms.Turning these principles into reality requires governance that is as innovative as the technology itself.Human rights must remain at the centre of AI governance. Transparency, accountability and meaningful human oversight cannot become optional features added after technologies are deployed. They must be embedded by design.Whether AI is used in healthcare, education, employment, justice or public administration, people must understand how decisions affecting their lives are made and have mechanisms for accountability when harm occurs.There is also a profound ethical responsibility. As the saying goes, "He who builds a bridge has the moral responsibility to ensure that it is safe." The same principle applies to artificial intelligence. Those who design increasingly powerful AI systems bear a corresponding responsibility to ensure they are safe, transparent, secure and aligned with the public good.A Shared FutureBack to the Geneva conferences, what was particularly heartening for me was the resounding affirmation of the United Nations’ role as a convenor. The AI Global Governance Dialogue was a direct outcome of the Global Digital Compact, adopted by Member States alongside the Pact for the Future in 2024. Over 170 member states showed up in Geneva, as did civil society, researchers and technology company leaders. While they did not all see the issue from the same perspective, they engaged constructively on the need for stronger AI governance. The dialogue is on and the United Nations is playing an increasingly important role in convening this global conversation. Through the leadership of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and initiatives such as the AI for Good Global Summit, governments, industry, academia and civil society are working together to shape governance approaches that encourage innovation while safeguarding human rights and advancing sustainable development.Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are undoubtedly shaping the future. If governed wisely, AI can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, expand opportunity and improve lives. If left ungoverned, it risks overtatking human agency, widening inequality, reinforcing exclusion and concentrating power even further. Its future should not be determined solely by those with the greatest computing power. It should be shaped collectively by humanity. Our responsibility is to ensure that the future being shaped is equitable, inclusive, transparent and worthy of the generations that will inherit it.If we do not act together, we may look back on this period as the moment when we lost the plot. We must act now.

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UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira poses with a robot.

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25 June 2026

A Community Transformed - Clean Water. Healthy Children.

On Eswatini's eastern border, a mother of six once walked three kilometres for water she could not even be sure was safe. Today she leads her community's soap-making training. Her story is what water security makes possible.For most of her life, Thabsile Khoza's day began with distance.The nearest reliable water source — a borehole — sat about three kilometres from her home in eBhandeni, on the dry eastern edge of Eswatini where the land runs up against the Mozambican border. That distance had to be crossed on foot and repeated across the days and the seasons, with six children depending on whatever she could carry back. The walk took her through tall grass, the bucket balanced on her head, the same journey every household here knew by heart.There was closer water, from a natural spring. But it was contaminated and unsafe to drink. Thabsile knew it. Her whole community knew it. Without an alternative, they drank it anyway.In a community where roughly half the population are children, that was not a small risk. Unsafe water is one of the surest ways for waterborne illness to take hold, and for the youngest, it can be fatal.A community under pressureeBhandeni's story is not unique in Eswatini, but it is sharper here than in most places. This is one of the country's most water-stressed, climate-exposed communities — remote, underserved, and short of rain. And water insecurity never stops at thirst. It reaches into everything.It reaches into schools, where girls miss class to fetch water. Into livelihoods, where livestock die without enough to drink. Into dignity itself, where families cannot keep up the basic hygiene that protects their health. Across Eswatini, well over half the population lives below the national poverty line, and acute food insecurity touches hundreds of thousands of people. In a place like eBhandeni, those pressures compound. Addressing water here is not a single fix. It is a gateway to health, to safety, and to dignity.What changedThe intervention that reached eBhandeni was built on three connected pillars, and it was designed to last — implemented through Eswatini's own government ministries rather than
around them, with support from the Government of Japan and the implementing partner COSPE.The first pillar was the water itself. A spring was protected — secured, covered, and connected to a storage tank and a community standpipe — bringing clean water within reach of more than 100 households. Designated livestock watering points kept animals away from the human supply. COSPE constructed a well, adding another access point. For families near the protected spring, the three-kilometre walk simply ended.The second pillar was ownership. Community water committees were trained to manage and maintain the systems themselves, so that today's infrastructure keeps working long after the project period closes.The third pillar reached into Thabsile's own hands.The woman who now leads the trainingWhen the soap-making project began, it was a response to something simple and hard: many eBhandeni households could not afford handwashing or liquid soap at all. The most they could manage was laundry soap. So the Ministry of Health and UNICEF brought in a trainer to teach the community to make their own.Thabsile learned. And then she kept going. On the day we visited, it was Thabsile herself standing at the front of the community hall, measuring the bright green liquid into a jug, pouring it carefully into bottles, showing the other women how to stir the mixture and add the fragrance — the trainee became the trainer of others."The soap-making project has taught us the importance of hygiene," she says. "We take pride in producing it ourselves, rather than relying entirely on shops. The money we earn helps our households purchase what we need."That last point matters as much as the hygiene. The soap protects her children's health and stocks the local schools, but the surplus is sold, and the income goes toward school fees, food, and the daily essentials. Thabsile grows vegetables too. Piece by piece, she is building a household resilience that did not exist before this programme reached her community.Her story is not exceptional in eBhandeni. It is the programme working as intended — not delivering charity, but restoring capability.A model built to lastThe way the programme was built is the reason it is likely to endure. Every pillar was delivered with a government ministry: the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy brought the water-supply expertise and tied the work into a larger national pipeline project extending water toward the communities along the Mozambican border; the Ministry of Health led the soap-making training and folded hygiene messaging into the existing health system; the Ministry of Agriculture advised on livestock and livelihoods. COSPE built infrastructure. Japan funded it."This area is severely water-stressed in every respect," says Musawenkhosi Mwelase of the Department of Water Affairs in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. "The soap-making programme represents a highly impactful intervention for the community. Beyond promoting better hygiene practices, it also strengthens household independence and creates opportunities for families to support themselves."Looking aheadThe work in eBhandeni has shown what becomes possible when water security is treated as a foundation rather than a finishing line. More than 100 households now have protected, clean water. Families make their own soap. Children wash their hands at school. A community that once walked three kilometres is beginning to know what it feels like to have enough.But the job is not done, and Thabsile is clear about what remains. The community well still needs a proper cover, to keep out contamination and protect children from accidents. The existing borehole needs a pump system to carry water closer to the households that the protected spring does not yet reach. These are not wishes. They are the logical next steps of a programme that has already earned the community's trust through results.Continued investment in eBhandeni will not start from zero. It will build on infrastructure already in place, on trained water committees, on active hygiene networks, and on a community that has proven it can own and sustain change. The foundation has been laid. The next phase can go further — toward a community where reliable, safe, dignified water is not a privilege, but a given.Thabsile still knows the weight of a full bucket and the length of that walk. But more and more of her days now begin somewhere else: at the front of a room, teaching her neighbours how to protect their own families. From burden to belonging.The eBhandeni WASH programme is implemented by UNICEF Eswatini in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture, with the implementing partner COSPE. UNICEF Eswatini extends its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan, whose support through the FY2024 Supplementary Budget made this programme possible.

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25 June 2026

The Long Road Back to School

In the mountains of Lamgabhi, a young mother walks two hours a day to claim a right that once did not exist. Her journey is the story of a policy — and of what Eswatini's investment in girls makes possible.The road out of Nolwazi Dlamini's home does not appear on most maps. It begins high in the mountains of Lamgabhi, in south-western Eswatini, and drops through thick bush where the grass grows taller than a person and snakes move unseen. On rainy mornings the path turns to mud, too slick for any vehicle, and Nolwazi picks her way down on the narrow footpaths instead. Further along, she crosses the Ngwempisi River on a footbridge before the land finally levels out toward Inyandza High School.The walk takes her about an hour and twenty minutes. On the mornings she is running late, she can do it in an hour.She is 23 years old, and she has been making this journey for years — not because it is easy, but because she decided her story was not finished.A door that used to closeNolwazi became pregnant at 17 and gave birth at 18, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her son, Andile, is now five. Like thousands of girls in Eswatini before her, she left school after giving birth — not by choice, but because her family could no longer afford the fees, and because, at the time, no one had told her she had the right to return.For decades in Eswatini, pregnancy quietly ended a girl's education. Some were sent home formally; others simply disappeared from the register and never came back. Teenage pregnancy still accounts for more than half of all dropouts among girls in senior secondary school, and the country's adolescent birth rate remains one of the highest in the region. When schools closed for nearly 20 months during the pandemic, the pressures on adolescent girls grew sharper still.What changed for Nolwazi was not luck. It was policy — and the support that turned policy into something she could actually reach.In 2020, the Ministry of Education and Training introduced the National School Pregnancy Prevention and Management Policy, giving pregnant pupils and teenage mothers, for the first time, a legal right to remain in and return to school. With support from UNICEF and co-financing from the European Union, implementing partners including the Bantwana Initiative and Young Heroes began identifying out-of-school mothers and walking them back through the gates — with bursaries, remedial classes, health support and someone to ask after their children."I became hopeful"The opportunity reached Nolwazi the way most things reach families in Lamgabhi — through a community meeting.Her mother went and came home with news: an organisation called Bantfwana was supporting pregnant teenagers and young mothers who wanted to go back to school. There would be interviews. Only a few girls would be chosen."When my mother came home and told me about the opportunity, I became hopeful," Nolwazi says. "I prayed that I would be among them, and by God's grace, I was chosen. That opportunity changed the direction of my life."She returned to school in the third term of 2021 and was placed in Form 2. Because she came back so late in the year, she had to repeat the form the following year. She accepted it without complaint. "I understood that it was necessary for my progress," she says.Going back was harder than the walk. "On my first day back at school, I felt deeply anxious and sad," she remembers. "I feared that my peers would laugh at me, humiliate me, and judge me for becoming pregnant at a young age." In the community, some people had already done exactly that. "Some people laughed at me, criticised me, and said they had expected such a thing to happen to me. Their words were hurtful and made an already difficult situation even harder."Her mother responded differently. She had been saddened by the pregnancy but never said so harshly. "Instead, she chose to guide me and offer advice."A family holding a future togetherNolwazi's home tells its own story. She lives with her mother and stepfather and her younger brother in a mud and stick house where the family cooks over an open fire, the woodsmoke curling up through gaps in the roof. Maize cobs are stacked against the wall for the months ahead. Fetching firewood from the nearby forest is one of Nolwazi's daily responsibilities, on top of school and motherhood.It is not a household with much to spare. But it is one that decided this young mother's education was worth protecting.Each morning Nolwazi leaves early with Andile, dropping him at a place along the way before continuing on to school. After classes, he returns to his grandparents, who feed him and care for him until she gets home. His father contributes money for food and other necessities. "Their help has made it possible for me to continue with my education while also fulfilling my responsibilities as a mother," she says of her parents.This is what reintegration looks like in practice — not a single intervention, but a web of support holding steady around one girl: a policy, a partner organisation, a school that opened its doors, and a family that refused to let her drop out of her own future.The dream she is sewing towardAt Inyandza, Nolwazi found more than a desk. She found her teachers asking after Andile, encouraging her, treating her as a learner rather than a cautionary tale. "Their concern and guidance have helped me feel accepted and motivated," she says.She also found a sewing machine.Nolwazi wants to be a fashion designer — to be a tailor, create her own clothing designs, and sell them to earn a living. The school lets her practise on its machines, and while she was in Form 4 she was given the chance to sew garments for Form 3 learners. On the day of our visit, she held up a bright red traditional dress she had made herself, turning it in the mountain light. A skill, practised. A dream, taking shape."Designing clothes is something I truly love, and I believe it is where my talent lies," she says. "I am confident that, with the right support and opportunity, this passion can help me build a better future for myself and my child.""Remember why you returned"Nolwazi passed her Form 4 examinations and is now progressing through Form 5. She has advice for any girl standing where she once stood, afraid of the walk back through the gates."Go back to school if you have the opportunity," she says. "Some learners may laugh at you or mock you, but do not allow their words to define your future. Ignore the negativity and focus on your goals. With time, things become normal again. What matters most is remembering why you returned — to complete your education, pursue your dreams, and create a better life for yourself and your child."In Eswatini, the reintegration of teenage mothers is no longer a question of whether it should happen. It is the law. What remains is the work of implementation — training more teachers, reaching more schools, and ensuring that no girl has to choose between her child and her classroom.For UNICEF and its partners, including the European Union, continued investment in this programme is not a request to begin something new. It is an invitation to sustain something that
is already working, and to extend it — to more communities, more schools, and more young women walking their own long roads back.Nolwazi's road still floods when it rains. She still arrives some mornings wet and muddy and cleans herself up before class. But she arrives. And because a policy was backed by the support to make it real, the road now leads somewhere it never used to: forward.The school reintegration programme is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training, with support from UNICEF Eswatini and implementing partners the Bantwana Initiative and Young Heroes. The programme is co-financed by the European Union.

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25 June 2026

No Mother Walks Alone. No Father Left Behind.

Before the sun rises over Kwaluseni, a Mentor Mother is already on her feet. In the peri-urban communities ringing Manzini, peer mentorship is changing how mothers survive pregnancy — and, for the first time, drawing fathers into the story.At 5:30 in the morning, while much of Kwaluseni is still dark, Gcinaphi Nxumalo is already awake. Before she becomes a Mentor Mother for the day, she is simply a mother: she washes and dresses her own child and gets him ready for daycare. Only then does she turn to the households waiting for her.It is a small detail, but it explains everything about how this programme works. Gcinaphi is not an outsider arriving with a clipboard. She lives in the same crowded settlement as the women she supports, walks the same narrow paths between the single-room flats, and knows what it costs to raise a child here, where work means the long walk to the Matsapha factories and the nights can be dangerous for a woman alone.She plans each day the night before. Will it be client visits? House-to-house follow-ups? Supporting a mother through her appointment at the clinic? The answer depends on where the need is greatest, and in these communities the need is rarely in one place.The work that happens at the doorThis is the premise at the heart of the programme run by Siphilile Maternal & Child Health, with support from UNICEF Eswatini: the most effective health educator for a pregnant woman in a peri-urban community is often another woman who has walked the same road. Trained Mentor Mothers, recruited from the very communities they serve, carry support to the doorstep — no appointment required, no transport to find.When Gcinaphi visits a household, she begins with a simple question: how is the mother coping, in body and in mind? She uses the mother's clinic card as her map, checking antenatal appointments, blood pressure, HIV status and nutrition. She reminds mothers to take the supplements that help a baby grow in the womb, and to eat well, especially when they are on medication. She talks about the things a stretched health system has no time to teach: hygiene, self-care, keeping a clean home, the daily routines that quietly protect a mother and her child.As a due date nears, the conversation turns practical. Pack the baby clothes. Plan the journey to hospital. "Since ambulances can sometimes delay," she explains, "we encourage them to save money for a taxi in case labour begins unexpectedly." She teaches mothers the signs of labour, because knowing when to leave for the hospital can be the difference between a safe delivery and a tragedy.And after the baby arrives, she returns. She shows new mothers how to bathe a newborn safely, how to watch for dangerous bleeding, how to care for the umbilical cord until it heals. She checks the baby's skin, eyes and weight. She listens, she guides, she stays."Being a Mentor Mother is about walking alongside women through pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood," Gcinaphi says, "offering care, education and encouragement every step of the way."A weight too many carry aloneThe women she walks beside are carrying a great deal. In the communities around Manzini, poverty runs deep and teenage pregnancy is not the exception but the pattern. Eswatini's adolescent birth rate, at 78 per 1,000 girls, is among the highest in the region. Since 2021, Siphilile has enrolled 323 pregnant mothers aged between 10 and 19, twenty-six of them living with HIV and needing careful support to keep their babies from being infected.For many young mothers, the journey through pregnancy has always been navigated without enough information, without family support, and without a health system that comes to meet them. They miss antenatal visits because no one has explained why they matter. They struggle with breastfeeding and nutrition, not through carelessness, but for the simple lack of anyone to show them how.That is the gap the Mentor Mothers step into. Across seven communities in the Manzini Region, thirty-two of them now reach close to nine in ten of their clients in the home itself. Since 2021 the programme has enrolled 8,672 mothers and reached more than 15,000 children under five with health support that protects their first, most fragile years.The father his father never wasFor all its reach, the programme long shared a blind spot with the wider health system: fathers were largely absent from the story. Missing from clinics, from conversations about pregnancy, from the parenting journey altogether. In 2024, Siphilile set out to change that, adding a Mentor Father component to draw men in.Mcolisi Simelane, a father of five from KaKhoza township in Manzini South, is what that change looks like up close.He first came to Siphilile in 2015, not as a volunteer but as a man with a problem he did not know how to solve. His partner was reluctant to go to the hospital during her pregnancy, and he had no idea how to help her. What he found there was something he had never encountered before: a space where young fathers could sit together and speak openly about the things men are taught to keep to themselves. The fear. The confusion. The weight of a responsibility no one had ever shown them how to carry.The programme taught him something simple and, for him, revolutionary — to bond with his child before birth. To speak to the baby. To be present not only in body but in feeling. It did not only change how he fathered his children. It changed how he saw himself."Bonding with my unborn children has made me become the father my father never was," he says. "It has brought me closer to my children, and today I feel the love and the bond within my family."Today the support still comes to his door. A trained Mentor Father volunteer — a man who went through the programme himself — visits Mcolisi at home, sitting with him over a child health card, the way the Mentor Mothers sit with the women they support. It is peer mentorship extended to men: fathers showing other fathers what no one once showed them.His message reaches past his own gate. "Tell yourself: I'm not just a father, I'm a source — a source of education, love and security within the family."What sustained investment makes possibleMcolisi is not a pilot. He is proof of what is possible when men are invited into the conversation — and there are thousands of fathers across Manzini's communities who have never been told that bonding with an unborn child is even possible, let alone important. Reaching them is the next frontier.The results so far are clear, but the need is not yet met. The settlements Siphilile serves are still home to families for whom a clinic visit, a vaccination, or a bag of nutritious food demands resources and determination that many simply do not have. Thirty-two Mentor Mothers cannot yet reach every door.For UNICEF and its partners, continued investment in this programme is not a request to begin something new. It is an invitation to sustain something that is already working, and to carry it further — to more households, more fathers, more children, and more communities than the programme can currently reach."The Mentor Mothers programme does not build systems at a distance," says Njabuliso Lukhele, Programmes Manager at Siphilile. "It builds relationships at the door."With that support sustained, the promise on the horizon is a simple one: that every pregnant woman in Eswatini can have a mentor beside her, and every father can discover what it means to be a source of love, education and security for his family.No mother walking alone. And no father left behind.The Mentor Mothers and Fathers programme is implemented by Siphilile Maternal & Child Health, with support from UNICEF Eswatini, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.

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01 June 2026

Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.

World Malaria Day is a powerful global moment to reflect on the progress, renew commitment, and accelerate action to end malaria - one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases. For Eswatini, it is also a moment to reaffirm a clear national ambition: to eliminate malaria by 2028. In 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Eswatini, government and its partners are behind the global campaign: "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must." The theme is both a statement of confidence and a call-to-action to seize the opportunity; protecting lives today while investing in a malaria-free future.Globally, the fight against malaria has delivered encouraging results. Since 2000, 2.3 billion malaria cases and 14 million deaths have been averted worldwide. To date, 47 countries have been certified malaria-free including two in 2024 and three in 2025 while 37 countries reported fewer than 1,000 cases in 2024 alone. Eswatini is among the countries leading the global momentum, with elimination firmly within reach.Yet progress remains uneven. Across the African Region, malaria continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, with the heaviest toll falling on young children. These deaths are preventable, underscoring the urgent need for sustained political commitment, adequate financing and strong health systems.Amid this broader challenge, Eswatini stands out as one of Africa's most promising success stories. Over the past decade, the country has reduced malaria transmission to very low levels, transforming what was once a widespread public health crisis into a focused elimination effort. In many areas, local transmission has been interrupted, and significant proportion of reported cases are now imported. This is a testament to progress, but also a reminder that vigilance remains essential.This success has been made possible through strong national leadership, effective coordination by the National Malaria Programme, and the tireless dedication of health workers at every level. Surveillance systems now ensure that nearly every case is detected, investigated, and responded to with speed. Meanwhile, vector control measures including indoor residual spraying continue to protect communities, and timely diagnosis and effective treatment remain widely accessible.Dr. Susan Tembo, WHO Representative to Eswatini, reinforces the path forward:"As we move forward, five priorities will remain critical: sustaining national leadership and domestic investment; ensuring that decisions are driven by high-quality data and surveillance; strengthening cross-border collaboration; integrating malaria services within primary health care and community-based services; and fostering a whole-of-society approach that engages all sectors and communities. The World Health Organization remains fully committed to supporting the Government and people of Eswatini as you take these final steps towards elimination. Let us continue to act with urgency, unity, and determination, so that future generations in this country can live free from the burden of malaria."This year's World Malaria Day commemoration included a dialogue with parliamentarians, aimed at strengthening political ownership and empowering leaders to champion malaria elimination within their constituencies. Ending malaria in Eswatini will require a collective effort from communities, policymakers, and development alike to ensure sustained financing and accountability.WHO continues to support Eswatini through strategic leadership, policy guidance and technical assistance to the National Malaria Program. It also collaborates with stakeholders like the End Malaria Fund, a special initiative commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III to mobilize domestic resources and strengthen private-sector engagement in the fight against malaria. As Eswatini moves closer to elimination, sustained investment, strong partnerships, and collective action will be critical to protecting gains made and achieving a malaria-free future.

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Participants of the 2026 World Malaria Day commemoration.

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Press Release

23 June 2025

Resetting Agenda on Climate Action: United Nations Secretary-General to Deliver Major Address

The Secretary-General will outline the progress made since the Paris Agreement was adopted a decade ago, examine the barriers that continue to stall climate action, and make a bold call to speed up pathways to energy transitions.The address is intended to build global momentum in the lead-up to key multilateral forums and national decision-making processes. It aims to inspire bolder commitments ahead of major international milestones such as the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference and to inform the next generation of national climate action plans, including Eswatini’s forthcoming third round of Nationally Determined Contributions, which are being led with the support of UNDP.The Secretary-General’s address will also underscore how transitioning to clean and affordable energy is not only feasible, but vital to delivering jobs, economic growth, energy security, and resilience, especially for developing countries. It will challenge the outdated perception that climate action is too costly, instead presenting evidence that greater investment in renewable energy is sound economic policy. “Climate action is essential not only for the planet but also for Eswatini’s economic growth, energy security, and the wellbeing of its people,” according to George Wachira, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Eswatini. “This address will reinforce the opportunity for Eswatini to lead the way in adopting sustainable energy solutions that align with our national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.”The United Nations is inviting policy makers, civil society organizations, private sector, youth and members of the public to join the Secretary General as he unpacks the speech to the global community. Event Details:
Title: Moment of Opportunity: A Global Climate Address by the UN Secretary-General
Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EDT (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eswatini Time)
Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York | Livestreamed Globally

Media representatives are encouraged to cover the event and engage with its outcomes. Digital platforms will carry the event live, and expert interviews will be available upon request.For media inquiries, please contact:
Sisekelo Dlamini – sisekelo.dlamini@un.org | +268 7630 4529Mantoe Phakathi – mantoe.phakathi@undp.org | +268 7808 9481 About the UN in Eswatini:
The United Nations in Eswatini partners with the government and stakeholders to support sustainable development, climate resilience, and poverty eradication. Through initiatives aligned with the SDGs, the UN promotes inclusive growth and environmental stewardship that benefits all Eswatini citizens.

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Press Release

06 May 2025

MTN BUSHFIRE & UN INVITE YOUTH TO LIVE DIALOGUES SERIES

The UN Live Dialogues are MTN Bushfire and the United Nations in Eswatini’s joint outreach programme, aimed at encouraging young people to lend their efforts towards fostering positive change and sustainable legacies in our communities. Each dialogue will be hosted by specific UN agencies and will involve panel discussions, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. Experts, practitioners, and representatives from relevant civil society organisations will be invited to share insights, best practices, and experiences related to the theme. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute valuable insights on key topical issues affecting the Eswatini youth. This initiative is a dynamic and inclusive response to igniting collective action towards achieving the national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further advancing the impact of MTN Bushfire’s call to action for positive social and environmental change, Bring Your Fire, and in in line with the MTN Bushfire 2025 theme: ‘Creativity. Unity. Sustainability.’MTN Bushfire will also be giving away tickets to the 2025 festival to offer the opportunity for further engagement in the festival’s creative advocacy space, the UN Bring Your Fire Zone.The first UN Live Dialogues session will be held at Limkokwing in Mbabane on Friday 9 May, 2025, under the theme ‘Sustainability of Arts & Culture Festivals and Digital Connectivity’. The topic will be ‘Creating Synergies in the Creative-Cultural Ecosystem for Sustainable Festivals & Events’ and will be moderated by Lwandle Simelane, Secretary General of the Eswatini National Commission for UNESCO. Panellists will include Mmeli Hlanze, Executive Director of the Eswatini Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS), renowned artist Mbongiseni “Bholoja” Ngubane, Siphilele Magagula from Batter Branding, Nomathemba Xaba from New Life Entertainment, and Digital Media and Communications Specialist Miliswa Vilane. The themes for the other upcoming 2025 UN Live Dialogues are: Food Systems: Promoting Sustainable and Efficient Food Production & Distribution; Health & Gender Equality (including HIV): Promoting Health, Gender Equality and Well-Being for All; and Climate, Biodiversity, Pollution: Addressing the Urgent Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution.Participating UN agencies include the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and the International Office of Migration (IOM).Follow MTN Bushfire social media for further information, panellist profiles and updates.DateTimeVenueTheme / SDGsTopicUN AgenciesFriday, 9 May11am – 12:30pmLimkokwing Campus, MbabaneSustainability of Arts and Culture Festivals & Digital Connectivity(SDGs 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 17)Creating Synergies in the Creative-Cultural Ecosystem for Sustainable Festivals & EventsUNESCO, in partnership with ESWACOSTuesday, 13 May11am – 12:30pmUNESWA, Luyengo CampusPromoting Sustainable and Efficient Food Production and Distribution (SDGs 2, 3, 12 & 15)Empowering youth through technology and innovation for inclusive agrifood systems transformation to achieve food sovereignty in Eswatini FAO, UNHCR, WFPWednesday, 14 May11am – 12:30pmUNESWA, Kwaluseni CampusHealth & Gender Equality (including HIV): Promoting Health, Gender Equality and Well-Being for All (SDGs 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15)Mental Health, HIV and Gender Based Violence Impact on Well-Being.WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA, IOMThursday, 15 May11am – 12:30pmHouse On Fire, MalkernsClimate, Biodiversity, Pollution: Addressing the Urgent Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution (SDGs 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15)Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Through the Systems Thinking Approach.FAO, IOM, WHO, UNESCO

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Press Release

20 February 2025

Applications Now Open for the 2025 Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship

Since its inception in 1981, the fellowship has hosted 670 journalists from 168 countries, providing them with the tools to produce high-quality coverage of the UN General Assembly and related events. Many former fellows have built strong international networks, advancing their careers and contributing to more informed global reporting.Established as the Department of Public Information (DPI) Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 35/201, the fellowship was renamed in 2003 in honour of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old Jordanian UN Public Information Officer who tragically lost her life in the 19 August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.RAF fellowship participants gain firsthand exposure to the inner workings of the United Nations, equipping them to report more effectively on key global issues. Fellows engage with senior UN officials, media experts, and specialized UN speakers, receiving valuable training while expanding their professional networks and strengthening connections with UN offices to support future reporting.The programme enjoys broad support within the UN system, including from the Deputy Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Past fellows have had the opportunity to meet with high-ranking officials, such as the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and Permanent Representatives to the UN. Additionally, participants engage with international news organizations and receive training from leading media experts.This prestigious programme, scheduled for September and October 2025, is open to journalists aged 22 to 35, from developing countries and economies in transition, with experience reporting on UN-related issues. Journalists from Eswatini are strongly encouraged to apply and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to gain valuable insights, enhance their expertise, and contribute to more in-depth coverage of international affairs.The application period for the 2025 RAF fellowship runs from 17 February to 31 March 2025. Interested candidates can apply at: https://www.un.org/en/raf/application2025.

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Press Release

13 February 2025

Private Sector and United Nations Forge Stronger Ties for Eswatini’s Future Under the UN-Government Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030

As the UN shapes this critical framework, consultations with key national stakeholders ensure that the strategy aligns with Eswatini’s development priorities. A most recent step in this process was the high-level dialogue with the Government on 16 January, led by the Right Honourable Prime Minister, which focused on the CF’s strategic direction and key areas of intervention. Building on these discussions, today’s dialogue marked a significant milestone, integrating the private sector’s voice into the country’s trajectory for the next five years. It provided a platform for the UN to present the draft strategic priorities of the 2026–2030 Cooperation Framework, and for industry leaders to share insights on mobilizing collective efforts to build a resilient and thriving Eswatini.Reflecting on the importance of partnerships, Nathi Dlamini, CEO of Business Eswatini, remarked: "Being part of BE, I am reminded of the power of collaboration. In-country, we have seen firsthand how partnerships between the public and private sectors, civil society, and international organizations can transform economies, uplift communities, and create a more equitable future for all."Echoing the words of Business Eswatini’s CEO, Mvuselelo Fakudze, President of Business Eswatini, emphasized: "The private sector is a vital partner in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We recognize that our success as businesses is deeply intertwined with the well-being of the communities we serve. A thriving economy, a healthy environment, and an inclusive society are not just aspirations—they are prerequisites for sustainable business growth."With only five years left to achieve the 2030 SDG targets, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Eswatini, George Wachira, highlighted the indispensable role of the private sector in Eswatini’s economic progress and long-term sustainability, stating: "The private sector is more than just an engine of economic growth; it is a catalyst for transformation. You drive innovation, deploy cutting-edge technologies, build skills, continuously improve efficiency, lift people out of poverty, and make money out of it!"Mr. Wachira also highlighted the world’s "polycrisis," where developing nations face dwindling development support and steeper financial barriers compared to developed countries. Despite these challenges, he underlined that today’s complex global landscape also presents opportunities to rethink development strategies and embrace bold, innovative solutions.In the light of today’s discussions, the UN reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the private sector to drive meaningful change and accelerate progress toward the SDGs and opened the floor for open dialogue. The United Nations assured that insights gathered during this dialogue will inform the final Cooperation Framework, ensuring it resonates with Eswatini’s comprehensive aspirations and the broader global agenda for sustainable development.

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