The UN Celebrates International Women’s Day with Business Women Eswatini

The event celebrated the incredible women and men in Eswatini who are shaping a more equal future and who have made a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

Hosted by Business Eswatini, the event celebrated rural women making an impact through  Business Women Eswatini’s Vukani BoMake Project, the founder and CEO of Business Women Eswatini, H.E. Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, H.E.’s Ambassadors of the United States of America and the European Union, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC).

The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, also officially opened a container-factory, supported by the UN, in which rural women are manufacturing reusable grocery bags.

“It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the United Nations Development System in Eswatini, to hand-over a UN contribution towards Vukani BoMake’s significant efforts in creating a better and more sustainable future for all and in achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. This container and the next ones to come will enable talented women to manufacture reusable grocery bags, a critical step towards achieving several SDGs and a true representation of the United Nations’ valued partnership with the Vukani BoMake Project and wonderful women of our Kingdom,” stated the UN Resident Coordinator.

“Women work not only to empower themselves, but their families, communities and future generations,” continued the UNRC;  “the world needs to see more women in positions of leadership, as does this beautiful nation.”

Mr Nathi Dlamini, CEO of Business Eswatini, stated that; “there’s a female voice that has been getting louder and louder,” eager to make an impact in the societies and communities that they live in.

The CEO of Business Women Eswatini, Ms Tokky Hou, shared that Business Eswatini continues to be passionate about the advancement of gender equality in the business sector, with a vision to empower women at the Tinkhundla level.

Ms. Hou shared that the ever-present challenge that women have very limited capital within the country, making an effective project difficult to create. Thus, through an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs; “Tseanga Sakho Khona uto Phatsa Sakho” (Buy Your Own Bag So You Can Carry Your Own Bag), aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags in the country, the Vukani BoMake Project began to manufacture reusable shopping bags.

“Strong partnerships are essential in our efforts to create an equal future for all, as the great African proverb states: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ This proverb is exemplified in the presence today and partnerships of the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the private sector, NGOs, and development partners,” stated Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh.