Child-Headed Households Receive Over E600,000 Worth of Farm Inputs from the UN in Eswatini

The United Nations in Eswatini has contributed farm inputs worth E620,000 to orphans and vulnerable children living in child headed households across the country.

On the 11th of March 2021, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh presented the UN contribution to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Jabulani Mabuza, who received the items on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office at a warehouse of the National Disaster Management Agency in Matsapha.

The farm inputs included maize seeds, bean seeds, sweet potato cuttings, fertilizers, pesticides and also tractor hiring.

The UN contribution was made  in support of a project initiated by the Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sen. Themba Masuku, to address food insecurity and poverty among orphaned and vulnerable children in 167 child headed households across the country. Food insecurity has indeed been exacerbated by COVID-19 and is affecting more vulnerable children who lost 1 or 2 parents to either HIV or the coronavirus pandemic.

The project is implemented by the DPMO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and  Tinkhundla (chiefdoms) Administration.

The UN Resident Coordinator noted that orphans and vulnerable children face difficulties that no child should have to endure. “Compounded by the devastation of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which has left over 1,800 children leading their households in Eswatini; the effects of climate-related disasters; and increasing hunger and poverty; our children continue to bear the burden of the Kingdom’s vulnerabilities,” she said. “In order to achieve the Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),  children must remain our focus. It is important that the people and the leaders of Eswatini gather in unity and solidarity to support them through this unprecedented time in history.”

The UN Resident Coordinator commended the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for their dedication to vulnerable children, including through education grants for orphans and vulnerable children as well as food distribution.

Minister Mabuza, who spoke on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, said “the project was initiated with the understanding that issuing of food parcels creates a dependency syndrome and also degrades the pride of the recipients. The donation of farm inputs will empower the recipients with lifetime skills and also re-establish their dignity.”

The Minister also expressed gratitude as “this donation will go a long way in ensuring that more child headed households are assisted above the 167, which are currently in the project.” He said the project will address food security targets under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as well as targets SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing).