Government, partners meet to discuss UN support to Eswatini

On 30th October 2019, the Joint National Steering Committee established under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and the United Nations held its meeting to review and align the support of the UN in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The Joint National/UN Steering Committee is established to provide strategic guidance and oversight in the development and the implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and is established at a strategic level under the leadership of the Government and the UN Resident Coordinator.

Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Dr. Thambo Gina, officially opened the  meeting which was attended by principal secretaries, senior government officials and directors of private sector and civil society organisations. 

The meeting was held at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini. 

In his remarks, the Minister explained that the current cooperation framework between the Government and the UN is coming to an end in 2020 and that a new framework is now being developed for the programming cycle 2021-2025. “Development of the UNSDCF 2021-2025 will be informed by social, cultural, economic, legislative, environmental, climate change factors and other drivers of risks, vulnerabilities and needs at the national, regional and global level,” the Minister stated. “It will also be guided by the principle of leave no-one behind, the human rights-based approach to development, as well as gender equality and women’s empowerment, sustainability and accountability principles.”

The Minister further emphasized that the new framework will be aligned with national priorities, as defined in the National Development Plan 2019 – 2022, the Strategic Roadmap for Economic Recovery and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. 

Dr. Gina also urged the meeting to review the challenges and achievements of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016 -2020 with a view to enhance government efforts in realizing the country’s vision 2022 of attaining first world status and also meeting the SDGs targets by 2030.

In her remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh noted that the UN  “Delivering as One" modality initiated by the UN Country Team in Eswatini since 2008 and formally endorsed by the Government in 2014 is showing positive results in efficiency and effectiveness gains.She also observed that world leaders have recognized the urgent need to accelerate action on all levels and by all stakeholders in order to fulfil the vision and goals of the 2030 Agenda. “Calls have been made to engage Governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in generating solutions and accelerating action to address systemic gaps in implementation, as we all embark on a decisive decade for the 2030 Agenda,” she stated.

She emphasized that countries need to do more and faster while remaining committed to several principles, including (i) leave no one behind, (ii) mobilization of adequate and well-directed financing (iii) enhancement of national implementation (iv) bolstering local action and (v) reducing disaster risk and building resilience.