UN Resident Coordinator Statement at the handover ceremony of a Japan Funded programme implemented by WFP

It is with great pleasure that I join you today to welcome the high-level delegation from Japan and acknowledge yet another generous contribution of the Government of Japan to the children of Eswatini.

Since 2002 when the Government of Japan first funded an emergency response in Eswatini to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable, the Government of Japan, through its Embassy in Eswatini and in collaboration with WFP, has consistently supported the Government of Eswatini in various projects.Among the generous support provided to the country, we can mention the project for orphaned and vulnerable children at Neighborhood Care Points (NCPs), which has been funded by Japan since 2017.

These NCPs are not only places where children receive food but are also places where they gain access to early childhood education, psycho-social support, recreational activities and health care. As NCPs prepare both boys and girls for primary education, the project contributes to gender equality by fostering equal access to education (SDG 5 in action). This is done alongside the Government, which provides free primary education and as such, also allows girls from resource-constrained families to attend schools and not be overlooked in favor of boys.The United Nations has been a partner of the Government of Eswatini since 1970; this amounts to 50 years of continuous collaboration.

The UN Development System in Eswatini is composed of 8 resident UN agencies, funds and programmes, as well as non- resident entities, which have in-country programmes and projects. For an effective development assistance and to accelerate progress in Eswatini, the UN delivers on national priorities, initiatives and programmes As One. This ensures that development assistance is provided in a coordinated manner that enhances coherence, efficiency and effectiveness among all UN agencies.

The UN is committed to its close partnership with the Government to Eswatini’s development goals and, together with other partners, to achieve the aspirations of Agenda 2030.As SDG 2 ‘No Hunger’ stresses the commitment of our leaders to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030”, nutrition plays an important role in our work.

The UN is supporting the Ministry of Health to integrate nutrition into all health strategies and policies.

As the UN family, we are pleased to note that current nutrition programmes target the most in need, including orphans and vulnerable children, school children through the national school feeding, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and TB clients.Over 46% of the population of Eswatini is under the age of 20.71% of children under the age of 17 are orphans and/or vulnerable (OVC), largely due to the impact of HIV and AIDS. These OVCs constitute the most vulnerable segment of the population, with 1 in 4 children having lost one or both parents. The vulnerability of those children increases long before the death of a parent or guardian, as they often face loss of family, loss of identity, increased malnutrition and reduced opportunity for education.

Without adequate care and support, many are exposed to exploitative child labor, various other forms of abuse and may be confronted with increased vulnerability to HIV infection.Chronic malnutrition (stunting) remains a main concern in Eswatini. It affects 26% of children under the age of five.

The economic loss due to malnutrition is estimated at 3.1% of Eswatini GDP. With such alarming figures , and while acknowledging the significant steps taken by the Government to improve the nutrition of children in the country, we need to accelerate both our individual and combined support to the Government of Eswatini, so that  nutrition programmes and activities in Eswatini may be effectively and efficiently coordinated through the Ministry of Health.

With the support of the Government of Japan, WFP Eswatini has been able to provide social safety nets to over 52,000 children under the age of 8who have been attending NCPs since 2017. In times of increased food insecurity and recurring droughts, this support ensures that children receive one warm meal a day when many households may fail to meet food demands at home.Eswatini’s Human Capital Index is unfortunately among the lowest globally, regardless of the country’s lower-middle income status, with two of the main drivers being stunting and high infant mortality.

Stunting and Food Insecurity need to be addressed while social protection systems need to be established. A child born today in Eswatini would be 41% more productive under complete health and education preconditions.

We, as the UN, are determined to support the Government of Eswatini in making progress in the fight against malnutrition. We are most grateful to have a strong partner such as the Government of Japan which, which through its resources and support, continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving basic human needs for the most vulnerable groups in Eswatini, thereby bringing about sustainable change and saving and changing the lives of the children in Eswatini.

We are most grateful.

I thank you.