3-Day Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Workshop successfully concluded

The National Capacity Building Workshop on Localizing SDGs through Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) successfully concluded at Esibayeni Lodge, Matsapha, on October 17, 2024. This three-day event brought together representatives from all municipalities across Eswatini, including CEOs, senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as participants from civil society, the Federation of Eswatini Persons with Disabilities, the Youth Chamber of Commerce, and various UN agencies, led by the Office of the Un Resident Coordinator.

The workshop was spearheaded by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) with technical support from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and UN Eswatini. It aimed to equip local government officials with the necessary tools to implement Voluntary Local Reviews as part of Eswatini’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in dynamic sessions that covered the essential steps for conducting VLRs, stakeholder mapping, and the importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement. A key focus was placed on the importance of quality data for SDG progress monitoring, with insights shared by Jürgen Gafke, Senior Programme Management Officer from UN DESA, who emphasized the role of data accessibility in effective planning.

Speaking at the workshop's closing session, Ms. Nonhlanhla Shongwe, a senior economist in MEPD noted: "We are excited to see that six cities have confirmed their interest in conducting VLRs. The Ministry of Economic Planning is committed to supporting local governments throughout this process as we prepare for the submission of our third Voluntary National Review (VNR) in May 2025."

Participants praised the interactive nature of the workshop, with group exercises focused on stakeholder engagement and roadmaps for implementing VLRs in Eswatini. The workshop also allowed Eswatini to learn from the experiences of neighboring countries, including South Africa, which has successfully implemented VLRs in some of its municipalities.

In closing remarks, Mr. Benjamin Ofosu-Koranteng, Head of Office in the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) expressed gratitude to the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment: “We are confident that the knowledge gained, and the partnerships built here will help local governments take ownership of the SDGs and deliver impactful results.”

The event highlighted the critical role of local governments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the need for strong local action plans aligned with national strategies. As Eswatini accelerates its path towards the 2030 Agenda, the Ministry urged participants to remain committed to the timelines set in their work plans.

The workshop concluded with a collective call to action: continue advocating for VLRs, apply the knowledge gained, and foster partnerships to ensure that the SDGs are realized at both local and national levels.

For more information, please contact: 

Ministry of Economic Planning and Development: Melissa Mnisi - 7611 2044; sentakahle@gmail.com
Mphucuko Mamba, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office – Email: mphucuko.mamba@un.org

Jurgen Gafke, Senior Programme Management Officer, UNDESA – Email: gafke@un.org 

Stay tuned for further updates on Eswatini’s progress towards sustainable development.