The United Nations and European Union Share a Working Group to Strengthen Their Partnership

The working group session sought to explored opportunities to strengthen the existing relationship between the United Nations and European Union, on the delivery of both the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 and the EU Strategy in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Hosted on Tuesday, 26th October 2021 at the UN House, attendees discussed the UN-EU partnership in an evolving context of the recent civil unrest and COVID-19 crises: a time when growing inequalities are creating new vulnerabilities, risks, and threats to peace, social security, and social cohesion. The meeting focused on unpacking the achievements of Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Eswatini, the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and civil unrest, the UN and EU Strategic instruments and their outcome areas, progress, and challenges in implementation. In addition, opportunities for growth within the partnership were explored.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, emphasized the importance of working closely together to benefit the people of Eswatini, stating: "We need to work even closer together and look into each of our comparative advantages in the country, as well as those in neighboring South Africa, to ensure that we leverage Eswatini, using all resources available."

Attendees explored resource mobilization, the optimization of available resources, and the importance of solidarity, with the EU Ambassador, Ms Dessislava Choumelova, stating: "Multilateralism is the way forward for the world today… Despite global challenges, we are here today to support a multilateral system of global governance in a multi-polar world that is becoming increasingly contested."

The EU and UN are working closely together to effectively deliver their respective mandates, both of which are aligned to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, national priorities and in turn, one another. Opportunities with which to strengthen the partnership lie in the collective, coordinated, and efficient use of resources and expertise.

The UN Resident Coordinator concluded the meeting by emphasizing the importance of "Adaptability: we need to show the agility that is in our, CPD, CPs; we need to show quick and creative thinking, and leadership at all levels.”

In efforts to achieve Agenda 2030 and in turn, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17, the United Nations is working to strengthen all partnerships including those with the Government of Eswatini, development partners, international partners, civil society, the private sector, the media, academia and more. It is only in solidarity that we will overcome COVID-19 and the civil unrest that continues to shake the Kingdom of Eswatini.