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The Sustainable Development Goals in Eswatini
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Eswatini:
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15 April 2021
“There is No Tool for Development More Effective Than the Empowerment of Women”
In 2015, World Leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while maintaining peace, protecting the planet, the people and building partnerships. With only ten years remaining to achieve these goals, countries are accelerating steps towards ending poverty, fighting inequalities, tackling climate change, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Every month, the United Nations places one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the spotlight, highlighting its purpose, targets, and criticality in advancing Agenda 2030. This month’s focus is SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Earlier this month, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has “a woman’s face”. This is undeniable.
Indeed, women continue to play a disproportionate role in responding to the virus, eitheras frontline healthcare workers or as care-takers at home. In this regard, women’s unpaid care work has increased significantly as a result of school closures and the increased parental responsibilities women discharge, in addition to caring for the elderly. Women are also harder hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, as they disproportionately work in insecure labour markets. Nearly 60 per cent of women work in the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty.
In Africa, rural women in particular are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it is estimated that the pandemic will likely push 47 million more women into poverty, reversing decades of progress.
The pandemic has also led to a steep increase in violence against women and girls. With lockdown measures in place, many women were trapped at home or in their communities with their abusers, struggling to access services affected by cuts and restrictions. Data is already showing that, since the outbreak of the pandemic, violence against women and girls – and particularly domestic violence – has very significantly intensified.During the pandemic, calls to helplines increased five-fold, reporting cases of intimate partner violence.
In Eswatini, even as we celebrated the International Women’s Day on 8 March, there have been shocking headlines of domestic and intimate partner violence where, sadly, the lives of women and girls have been lost.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights over the last few decades since the Beijing Declaration.
Clearly, the coronavirus outbreak is exacerbating existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere, from health and the economy to security and social protection.
Over the last decades, we have witnessed positive progress on Gender Equality. As we speak, globally, there are more girls in school than in previous decades. There are fewer girls forced into early marriage; more and more women are serving in Parliament and in positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.
Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive; women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership; and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period.
After the lockdowns, one million girls are expected never to return to school due to early teenage pregnancy.
In Eswatini, 87 of every 1,000 girls are falling pregnant and losing their education, as are many losing their lives to pregnancy and birth complications. One girl losing her life to early teenage pregnancy is one too many.
The physical and psychological consequences of violence against women are devastating: not only does violence undermine the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, but it happens in a culture of silence. Less than 10 percent of women report incidences of violence to the police. We cannot afford to remain silent a moment longer.
Gender-based violence knows no boundaries and can affect anyone, anywhere and at any time. However, particular groups of women and girls are extremely vulnerable to violence, including young girls and older women; women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex; migrants and refugees; indigenous women and ethnic minorities; as well as women living with HIV or disabilities, and those living through humanitarian crises.
Girls and women account for 72 percent of trafficking victims, of whom most are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. More than 200 million girls and women alive today have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Despite the many obstacles girls and women face, they continue to show incredible strength and resilience as they fight on the frontlines in many ways: not only as mothers, caretakers and bread-winners at home; community leaders; peacekeepers in war zones and soldiers, but also as nurses, doctors, healthcare and essential workers during COVID-19.
Preliminary studies show that women account for over 70 percent of COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers, a testament to their share in the total healthcare workforce. Yet, they account for less than a third of all deaths among healthcare workers. These statistics are only a few that demonstrate the courage and resilience of women.
We have also witnessed the phenomenal leadership of female leaders such as Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. Their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have proved effective, inclusive and people-oriented; making significant strides to ensuring that nobody is left behind in their recoveries from COVID-19.
Only 23 countries today have an elected female Head of State or Government, while 119 countries have never had a female leader. Africa remains exceptionally behind in women leadership, as only four women have ever held positions as Head of State or Head of Government.
In Eswatini, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed the exceptional leadership of brave women such as the Honourable Minister of Health and other female Cabinet Ministers, Honourable female members of the Parliament and the many others – wives, businesswomen, women farmers, teachers, big sisters to orphans, grandmothers and the alike – who have led their families and their communities throughout the pandemic. The vision, the innovative thinking, the humanity and the leadership of female Captains of Industry and sisters such as the ones involved in the Vukani BoMake project have helped to transform the lives of so many others across this beautiful nation. All of them have demonstrated incredible resilience in the face of the several adversities they have faced, and turned challenges into opportunities, and opportunities into success.
Despite those inspiring examples, the 2018 UN Human Development Report ranked Eswatini 137 out of 159 countries for gender inequality, for unemployment remains higher for young women than men, at 50 percent and 44 percent respectively.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Worldwide, it is estimated that gender parity, at the current rate in which it is moving, will not be reached in national Parliaments before 2063, and in ministerial positions before 2077.
As we seek to recover from COVID-19, we are presented with a unique opportunity to recover better whilst recognising the powerful roles that women and girls have played throughout the pandemic.
The United Nations’ response to COVID-19 is therefore founded on the principles of protecting the people and the planet, preserving the gains of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving Agenda 2030.
In line with SDG 5, the UN is continuing to invest in life-changing initiatives for millions of women and girls worldwide through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. This Fund focuses on preventing violence, implementing laws and policies, and improving access to vital services for survivors. With more than 460 programmes in 139 countries and territories over the past two decades, the United Nations will not stop until every girl and woman is given equal access to rights and opportunities.
The United Nations continues to stand in solidarity with the Government and the people of Eswatini as, altogether, we continue to pursue a just, prosperous and resilient Eswatini in which nobody is left behind.
We need local solutions to local problems and a recovery that places women and girls at the centre. In the powerful words of the late Kofi Annan: “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.” It is in solidarity that we will achieve gender equality, a gain that will benefit the entirety of our nation and world.
SDG 5 Targets:
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels
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14 April 2021
UN Personnel Are Vaccinated Against COVID-19
The rollout of the vaccines took place at the UN isolation facility: a step taken by the United Nations to ensure the good health and well-being of their personnel who serve as frontline workers, and as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.
The United Nations is at the forefront of the world’s efforts to respond to and recover from the pandemic, as well as ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines within and amongst nations.
Eswatini’s nationwide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines commenced on 19th March 2021 and will be carried out in two phases. Phase 1, stage A, will cover all health workers and stage B will cover the elderly and people with comorbidities. Phase 2 will cover other frontline workers such as the police force, teachers, transport industry and the media, whilst Phase 3 will reach all remaining adults.
The vaccination of UN staff and personnel will enable the continuity of business operations, as well as assist the Government’s efforts to recover better from the pandemic.
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Story
17 March 2020
COVID-19: We Will Come Through This Together
The upheaval caused by the coronavirus – COVID-19 - is all around us. And I know many are anxious, worried and confused. That’s absolutely natural.
We are facing a health threat unlike any other in our lifetimes.
Meanwhile, the virus is spreading, the danger is growing, and our health systems, economies and day-to-day lives are being severely tested.
The most vulnerable are the most affected—particularly our elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, those without access to reliable health care, and those in poverty or living on the edge.
The social and economic fallout from the combination of the pandemic and slowing economies will affect most of us for some months.
But the spread of the virus will peak. Our economies will recover.
Until then, we must act together to slow the spread of the virus and look after each other.
This is a time for prudence, not panic. Science, not stigma. Facts, not fear.
Even though the situation has been classified as a pandemic, it is one we can control. We can slow down transmissions, prevent infections and save lives. But that will take unprecedented personal, national and international action.
COVID-19 is our common enemy. We must declare war on this virus. That means countries have a responsibility to gear up, step up and scale up.
How? By implementing effective containment strategies; by activating and enhancing emergency response systems; by dramatically increasing testing capacity and care for patients; by readying hospitals, ensuring they have the space, supplies and needed personnel; and by developing life-saving medical interventions.
All of us have a responsibility, too -- to follow medical advice and take simple, practical steps recommended by health authorities.
In addition to being a public health crisis, the virus is infecting the global economy.
Financial markets have been hard hit by the uncertainty. Global supply chains have been disrupted. Investment and consumer demand have plunged -- with a real and rising risk of a global recession.
United Nations economists estimate that the virus could cost the global economy at least $1 trillion this year – and perhaps far more.
No country can do it alone. More than ever, governments must cooperate to revitalize economies, expand public investment, boost trade, and ensure targeted support for the people and communities most affected by the disease or more vulnerable to the negative economic impacts – including women who often shoulder a disproportionate burden of care work.
A pandemic drives home the essential interconnectedness of our human family. Preventing the further spread of COVID-19 is a shared responsibility for us all.
The United Nations – including the World Health Organization -- is fully mobilized.
As part of our human family, we are working 24/7 with governments, providing international guidance, helping the world take on this threat.
We are in this together – and we will get through this, together.
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08 February 2023
Eswatini has accepted 70.3% human rights recommendations
Following a review of Eswatini’s human rights records in 2021, the country has accepted 156 out of 222 recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The accepted recommendations relate to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 5: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, with support from three United Nations agencies in Eswatini (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – OHCHR; United Nations Development Programme – UNDP and United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA), has organised a 3-day (8-10 February) training and consultative workshop at the George Hotel in Manzini to develop an implementation plan for the UPR recommendations.
Opening the workshop, Principal Secretary in the Ministry, Ms. Lindiwe Mbingo, who was represented by the Under Secretary, Ms. Gugu Nsibande, told participants that implementing the recommendations will improve the promotion of human rights for the people of Eswatini.
“Today’s workshop is another result of the collaborative efforts between the UN and Eswatini,” she said. “For the first time, we are developing an implementation plan for the UPR recommendations which will be done in close consultation with all stakeholders drawn from Government, Non-Governmental Organisations, the Commission for Human Rights as well as the various UN agencies.”
The implementation plan will facilitate Eswatini’s preparations for the UPR mid-term review in 2024 as well as the forth cycle in 2026.
The Principal Secretary encouraged all stakeholders to ensure that the plan is implemented. “Having a plan is an end to itself,” she said. “We all need to commit to the realization of this plan for the advancement of human rights for our people.”
UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, who was represented by UN Eswatini Human Rights Adviser, Ms. Laila Nazarali, expressed hope that this process will facilitate consultations and lead to strengthened collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including marginalised groups.
“I hope we can create a safe, open and enabling space for civil society actors and human rights defenders to follow up meaningfully to UPR recommendations, especially those related to civic space,” he said.
The Resident Coordinator also applauded Eswatini in its ongoing efforts and progress made to improve the human rights of all Emaswati.
The UPR workshop is also expected to introduce participants to the national recommendations tracking database (NRTD) which will facilitate management of information and action on human rights.
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26 January 2023
High level meeting reviews UN supported programmes in Eswatini
The Joint National Steering Committee (J-NSC) set up to monitor implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2021-2025) held a high-level meeting to review progress at the Royal Villas, Ezulwini, on 25 January 2023.
The review of the Cooperation Framework, with a vision to contribute to “a prosperous, just and resilient Eswatini where no one is left behind”, is conducted annually through the four Results Groups that have been set up as per the 4 outcome areas of the strategic document.
The four outcome areas are: (i) Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth, (ii) Investing in Human Resources and Social Development, (iii) Accountable Governance, Justice and Human Rights and (iv) Strengthening Natural Resource Management, Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability.
A total of 16 UN agencies, coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, are implementing the strategic document in partnership with the Government, development partners, civil society, private sector and other sectors.
“In this gathering, we are going to share our common understanding of the challenges faced in implementing of the UN Cooperation Framework and to recommend solutions for improving the implementation,” stated Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Dr. Tambo Gina, who is the co-chair of the J-NSC together with the UN Resident Coordinator. “I therefore challenge of you to think beyond the parameters of your institutional mandates and recommend solutions that will benefit the country.”
The Minister expressed concern that COVID-19, civil unrest, climate change and the war in Ukraine were posing a serious threat to the gains made by the country in achieving the SDGs.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, noted that the Cooperation Framework was a new instrument under the UN reforms and is aimed at repositioning the UN Development System to be fit for purpose to carry forward the 2030 Agenda. “Within the repositioning, the UNSDCF is recognised as the most important instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities,” he said. “This meeting is an important accountability forum where we review our collective work.”
Mr. Wachira also observed that the global and national context within which the Cooperation Framework was being implemented has been challenging, especially in the last 3 years. “I commend all of you for your dedication and commitment to see this process through in spite of the transitional challenges as well as those confronting the country and the world,” he said. “I urge that we use this space to assess our collective performance and delivery against Agenda 2030, recognising that the global challenges and disasters have undermined decades of development efforts, reversing progress in many SDGs.”
The meeting was attended by senior Government officials, development partners, civil society, academia, private sector and persons with disabilities.
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23 October 2022
Eswatini Celebrates International White Cane Day
On Saturday, 22 October 2022, the United Nations Family joined the National Association of Persons with Visual Impairment in Eswatini (NAPVIE) in celebrating the International White Cane Day at the Millenium Park in Manzini.
The event was held under the theme: #WhiteCane Identifies, Protects My Sight: a plea for a conducive atmosphere, which aimed at raising awareness about the white cane and its significance in protecting persons with visual impairment.
UNFPA Head of Office, Ms. Margaret Thwala-Tembe, who represented the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr George Wachira, noted that despite many efforts done, more attention was still required to address challenges faced by persons with visual impairment, including in mobilizing resources.
Shortage of assistive devices such as white canes, inaccessible route in public spaces, are among the myriad challenges persons with visual impairment face in pursuit of their daily chores.
“The United Nations in Eswatini continues to stand in solidarity with all persons with blindness and visual impairment by working with partners to create an enabling environment for all persons living with disabilities to thrive and live independent lives,” stated Thwala-Tembe. “The white cane is an important symbol of blindness and tool of independence."
According to the Population and Housing Census 2017, persons with disability form about 13% (146 554) of the total population in Eswatini and sight disability is the most prevalent category in the county with a prevalence rate of about 32%.
The commemoration of the International White Cane Day, which is done globally on the 15 October, creates an opportunity for a discussion on challenges and opportunities for persons with sight disabilities in society.
President of the Federation of Disabled in Swaziland (FODSWA) Mr Bongani Makama urged the Emaswati to familiarize themselves with some of the identifiers of disabilities.
“This year’s theme states the white cane identifies. Indeed, it a unique identifier. We need to popularize it through engagements with the public so that they understand what it means and how to protect the person carrying it,” Makama said.
The president’s words were echoed by Mr Mandla Methula who is the National Director. Mr Methula shared that disability friendly walkways could go a long way in protecting persons with visual impairment from getting hit by the cars or damaging their canes.
“It is difficult to replace or fix the white canes as they are not produced locally,” Methula said.
In Eswatini, the United Nations and the Government through the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office are currently implementing a disability mainstreaming project funded by the United Nations Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNPRPD) Among other things, the project seeks to establish a National Disability Council which will coordinate all disability related issues in the country.
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20 September 2022
Eswatini’s Dr Glory Msibi elected new ECSACON President
Dr Msibi was elected during the 7th Quadrennial General Assembly held in Manzini, Eswatini on 17 September 2022. The general assembly started with the amended of the constitution the previous day and proceeded to the election of a new committee on the next day, which saw Dr Msibi triumphing. She replaces Ms Keoagetse Kgwabi from Botswana. Other members who formed the Executive Committee are Eveline Maziku (Tanzania) who was elected Deputy President, Dr Patricia Mukwato (Zambia) who was elected Chairperson Research, Nancy Kamisi (Rwanda) who was elected Chairperson Clinical, Umzuka M Providence (Kenya) who was elected Chairperson Leadership and Management and Mr. Tebogo Glan Tshenyeno (Botswana) who was elected Chairperson Education.
Speaking soon after the elections, Dr Msibi thanked the ECSACON members for having entrusted her with the new task and promised that the Kingdom of Eswatini would live up to the challenge. ECSACON has for the past 32 years contributed to building capacity in nursing education, nursing regulation and practice. The organization has contributed to a number of studies conducted including the State of the World Nursing report, World Midwifery report to name a few.
Ministry of Health Eswatini Deputy Director – Clinical Dr Velephi Okello has revealed that among all health care workers in Eswatini, Nurses were the ones mostly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Okello said this during the 15th Biennial Conference hosted by the East, Central and Southern African College of Nursing (ECSACON) in Manzini which commenced on 13th September 2022. Almost 1, 000 nurses and midwives from 16 countries from the East, Central and Southern Africa participated in the conference to deliberate on issues affecting the profession, changes in regulations and developments as well as to share experiences as they conduct their work. Dr Okello commended the courage and passion demonstrated by nurses in the COVID-19 response despite the dangers they were facing of being infected with the virus.
“Nurses have been at the forefront of the COVID response,” she said mentioning that Nurses did not only care For COVID patients but also participated in surveillance (case finding) activities, information dissemination through mass media and face to face interactions. The Kingdom of Eswatini established kiosks at the Neighbourhood care points and other community centres to provide COVID testing services which were manned by Nurses. Further, a COVID academy was established which cultivated a group of nurses who became trainers and shared information with their colleagues.
Dr Okello mentioned that Nurses also led the vaccination programme which was later provided. As a result, at the beginning of September 2022, vaccination stood at 34. 3% of the total population of just over one million Emaswati. About 70% of those who took up vaccination were people over 40 years of age. Dr Okello mentioned that there was still a struggle when it comes to convincing young people to vaccinate, however, she mentioned that there are programmes in place to ensure that young people seek vaccination for COVID.
She further commended nurses for their commitment despite the challenges they faced. A study conducted by Dr Haumba and others on how COVID impacted health workers showed that Nurses were at high risk of contracting COVID -19 due to lack of isolation facilities within the health centres and lack of PPE among others.
Dr Okello mentioned that despite these challenges, Nurses still showed resilience and quick adaptation to the situation. She stated that lessons learnt from the COVID response showed that Nurses got fatigued and hence the need for wellness programmes.
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20 September 2022
Over 35 Eswatini youths in watch party at the start of the Transforming Education Summit
On the 16th September 2022, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira and UNICEF Deputy Representative, Mr. Afshin Parsi, joined about 40 young people from across Eswatini at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini to watch the Transforming Education Summit livestream from the UN General Assembly in New York.
The watch party, supported by UNICEF and UNESCO, was organised by the UN in Eswatini in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The Transforming Education Summit, which started with a Mobilization Day led by young people on the 16th September 2022, is a culmination of dialogues and conversations that took place since the beginning of the year across all countries, including Eswatini, leading to the General Assembly.
The Mobilization Day also witnessed the release of a “Youth Declaration on Transforming Education” which conveys the collective recommendations of youth on transforming education to decision and policymakers.
Speaking before the start of the livestream, Mr. Wachira congratulated the young people for making themselves available for the engagement with other young people across the globe. He encouraged them to recognise their presence, saying that itself was a great achievement. “You need to first recognise that you are here and you need to make your presence felt,” he said. “Secondly, you need to recognise that there are people like us in leadership whom you need to make accountable for the decisions they make on your behalf. Finally, we all need to keep the promise to transform education for the benefit of ourselves and generations to come.”
During the watch party, young people got an opportunity to reflect on the discussions in the Summit and noted with expressed appreciation that many of the perspectives were similar to theirs. “Like the young people we have heard at the Summit, we in Eswatini also need to be included in decision-making processes, especially when it pertains to our future,” said Leanne Mayer, a 16-year-old student from St' Theresa's High School.
The watch party was also used to facilitate group discussions along the five themes of the Summit. The young people then presented solutions on: Climate action for inclusive education; Gender transformative education; Fostering Student Leadership Through Transformational Teaching; Youth and Education advocacy and Educate yourself about refugee youth. This breakout session then allowed the young people to present on each topic and openly discuss what they mean in the context of education in Eswatini.
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Press Release
10 August 2022
Minister hosts UN team during a tour of Lavumisa Town Board
The Lavumisa Town Board has donated their old offices to MTAD with a view to bring Government services to the small town, located in the south-eastern tip of Eswatini, approximately 175km from Mbabane city. The Town Board will be moving to new premises, the building of which is near completion.
During the tour, the Minister noted that Lavumisa residents travel long distances to access Government services such as immigration, birth registration, social services and others. “Although we do not have a budget yet, it is our dream to turn this structure into a service centre similar to the four improved Tinkhundla centres,” said the Minister. Hon. Ngcamphalala also thanked UNDP for on-going support towards development of the Decentralisation Bill which is now being considered in Parliament.
Lavumisa Chief Gasa waNgwane expressed hope that the Minister’s visit would result in the success of the planned project. “We want to transform this town to be a centre of development and help our people to get all the services they need,” he said.
Mr. Wachira explained that the role of the UN was to support the efforts of the Kingdom to improve the lives of the people in line with national aspirations in line with the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that Eswatini was making good progress to achieve targets under SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, especially in supporting positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
“In many countries, it has been demonstrated that decentralisation allows the people to have a greater say in their own development priorities; and for government to align its resource allocation and policies in ways that make development real and responsive to the needs of its people. In particular, decentralisation spurs the acceleration, targeting and improvement of quality of services,” said Mr. Wachira.
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Press Release
28 July 2022
Minister of Economic Planning & Development, Dr. Tambo Gina hosts development partners, seeks feedback on draft National Development Plan
(28 July 2022: Mbabane) - Minister of Economic Planning & Development, Dr. Tambo Gina today convened a meeting for ambassadors, heads of missions and United Nations Heads of Agencies to obtain their feedback on the new National Development Plan for the period 2023 to 2027, currently being developed.
The meeting was held at the UN House in Mbabane with some participants joining virtually.
The NDP development process has so far benefitted from extensive consultations with the public sector, private sector, civil society and development partners. The document spells out Government’s plans to achieve economic recovery and sustainable livelihoods for all Emaswati in the next five years..
Minister Gina, who officially opened the meeting together with the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, explained that the new Plan has been developed following the expiration in March 2022 of the previous NDP which covered the period 2018-2022.
He noted that the previous NDP faced a number of challenges during its implementation which had not been envisaged. “We did not envisage the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic in March 2020 and the political unrests in June and July 2021,” the Minister said. “Nonetheless, I wish to express Government’s appreciation of the quick response and support received from our Development Partners which mitigated the devastating impacts COVID 19 could have had on human lives. We appreciate the technical and financial support, the food parcels, the vaccines and others that our development partners extended to the nation. We also want to thank you for the contributions you have already made and are making towards resolution of the political situation in the country, including the contributions you made towards the recovery of businesses that were damaged during the June and July 2021 unrests.”
Mr. Wachira acknowledged the critical role of development partners and thanked UNDP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for supporting the NDP process and noted the need for alignment between the new and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (202102025) signed jointly with the Government with a vision to see a prosperous, just and resilient Eswatini where no one is left behind. “As we review the document, we are keen to see ever strong links between the Plan and the Agenda 2030 national commitments,” he said.
Mr. Wachira noted that planning for the next five years was difficult in light of the increasingly vulnerable, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment, or “VUCA”. “We only need to think about the multiple crises that have buffeted and continue to disrupt our world today,” he said. “What does this mean for planning? In my mind, this world of today is increasingly challenging our traditional planning tools, and calling us to ensure our plans have inbuilt capacities for responsiveness ad adaptability.”
Mr. Wachira suggested that the planning process could be boosted through use of tools and thinking that challenge our imagination and help us to peer into the future, including horizon scanning, foresight for development, and scenario thinking.
The NDP has been drafted by a technical team led by Ms. Nomsa Dlamini, former chief economist in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. The team will consolidate the comments from development partners and other stakeholders to finalize the document for approval by Cabinet.
For more information, please contact:
Sibusiso Mngadi, Communications & Advocacy Officer
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office
5th Floor, UN House. Mbabane.
Tel: 7806 9042 Email: sibusiso.mngadi@un.org
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Press Release
05 June 2022
Secretary-General's Message on World Environment Day
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day, “Only One Earth”, is a simple statement of fact. This planet is our only home. It is vital we safeguard the health of its atmosphere, the richness and diversity of life on Earth, its ecosystems and its finite resources. But we are failing to do so. We are asking too much of our planet to maintain ways life that are unsustainable. Earth’s natural systems cannot keep up with our demands.
This not only hurts the Earth, but us too. A healthy environment is essential for all people and all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It provides food, clean water, medicines, climate regulation and protection from extreme weather events. It is essential that we wisely manage nature and ensure equitable access to its services, especially for the most vulnerable people and communities.
More than 3 billion people are affected by degraded ecosystems. Pollution is responsible for some 9 million premature deaths each year. More than 1 million plant and animal species risk extinction, many within decades.
Close to half of humanity is already in the climate danger zone – 15 times more likely to die from climate impacts such as extreme heat, floods and drought. There is a 50:50 chance that annual average global temperatures will breach the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next five years. More than 200 million people each year could be displaced by climate disruption by 2050.
Fifty years ago, the world’s leaders came together at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and committed to protecting the planet. But we are far from succeeding. We can no longer ignore the alarm bells that ring louder every day.
The recent Stockholm+50 environment meeting reiterated that all 17 Sustainable Development Goals rely on a healthy planet. We must all take responsibility to avert the catastrophe being wrought by the triple crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Governments need urgently to prioritize climate action and environmental protection through policy decisions that promote sustainable progress. To that end, I have proposed five concrete recommendations to dramatically speed up the deployment of renewable energy everywhere, including making renewable techologies and raw materials available to all, cutting red tape, shifting subsidies and tripling investment.
Businesses need to put sustainability at the heart of their decision-making for the sake of humanity and their own bottom line. A healthy planet is the backbone of nearly every industry on Earth.
And as voters and consumers we must make our actions count: from the policies we support, to the food we eat, to the transport we choose, to the companies we support. We can all make environmentally friendly choices that will add up to the change we need.
Women and girls, in particular, can be forceful agents of change. They must be empowered and included in decision-making at all levels. Likewise, indigenous and traditional knowledge must also be respected and harnessed to help protect our fragile ecosystems.
History has shown what can be achieved when we work together and put the planet first. In the 1980s, when scientists warned about a deadly continent-sized hole in the ozone layer, every country committed to the Montreal Protocol to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals.
In the 1990s, the Basel Convention outlawed the dumping of toxic waste in developing countries. And, last year, a multilateral effort ended the production of leaded petrol – a move that will promote better health and prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths each year.
This year and the next will present more opportunities for the global community to demonstrate the power of multilateralism to tackle our intertwined environmental crises, from negotiations on a new global biodiversity framework to reverse nature loss by 2030 to the establishment of a treaty to tackle plastics pollution.
The United Nations is committed to leading these cooperative global efforts, because the only way forward is to work with nature, not against it. Together we can ensure that our planet not only survives, but thrives, because we have Only One Earth.
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Press Release
04 May 2022
George Wachira appointed as UN Resident Coordinator for Eswatini
The United Nations Secretary-General has appointed Mr. George Wachira of Kenya as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Mr. Wachira, who replaces Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh of Cameroon who served the Kingdom from 2019 to 2021, assumed his position in April 2022.
Mr. Wachira of Kenya brings more than 30 years of experience at the interface of development, governance, conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Since joining the UN in 2011, he served as the UN Peace and Development Advisor in Guyana, Lesotho and lately in Eritrea where he led UN conflict prevention, strategic political analysis, peacebuilding, electoral support, political dialogue, human rights, national reforms and capacity building programmes. He also served as Head of the Governance and Peacebuilding Unit of UNDP in Lesotho.
Prior to joining the UN System, he worked for 20 years in various capacities, including as executive director, for Nairobi Peace Initiative-Africa, a pioneering peacebuilding organisation from where he helped shape peacebuilding practice in eastern, central and western African countries.
Mr. Wachira obtained his master’s degree in international peace studies from the University of Notre Dame in the USA and a bachelor’s degree in government and anthropology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Background information
A United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest United Nations official and the chief of UN diplomatic mission in a country. It confers the same rank as an Ambassador of a foreign state. The resident coordinator is the designated representative of the UN secretary general and leader of United Nations Country Team of agencies.
There are 16 UN Agencies operating in Eswatini. The UN Development System in Eswatini and Government of Eswatini have signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2021-2025 with a vision of “a prosperous, just and resilient Eswatini where no one is left behind”.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Sibusiso Mngadi, Communications and Advocacy Officer,
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO)
Tel: 7806 9042
Email: sibusiso.mngadi@un.org
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Press Release
19 October 2021
Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the Situation in the Kingdom of Eswatini
The Secretary-General is following with concern the ongoing developments in Eswatini, including the recent deployment of armed security forces at various schools, reports of excessive use of force in response to student demonstrations, and the indefinite closure of schools. This affects adversely children and young people.
The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of enabling the people of Eswatini to exercise their civil and political rights peacefully. He urges the Government to ensure that security forces act in conformity with relevant international human rights standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Secretary-General condemns all acts of violence and urges all parties and the media to refrain from disinformation, hate speech and incitement.
The United Nations remains committed to working with the Government and the people of Eswatini, and all partners, to achieve a peaceful resolution.
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Latest Resources
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Resources
09 March 2021
Resources
09 March 2021
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