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UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Henrik Franklin, poses with stakeholders after the CPD engagement.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Eswatini presented a draft of its 2026–2030 Strategic Offer, also known as the Country Programme Document (CPD), to technical stakeholders for review and feedback. This is one of the key steps in developing a comprehensive strategy to support Eswatini in addressing some of its key development challenges, such as poverty, climate change, and unemployment, before its submission to the UNDP Board for review and approval in September.
This engagement follows the February 20 CPD Board meeting, at which cabinet ministers, senior government officials, representatives of development partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations provided high-level strategic input into developing the draft 2026-2030 CPD.
UNDP Eswatini is developing its Country Programme Document (CPD) for the next five years, ensuring alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2026-2030, which is in its final formulation stages. The UNSDCF and CPD are guided by the national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan 2024-2028.
Addressing the technical experts from various organizations representing the government, development partners, civil society and UN agencies, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms Nessie Golakai-Gould urged the participants to contribute towards the draft document so that UNDP can deliver an offer that reflects the needs of emaSwati. The stakeholder engagement took place at the UN House on March 05.
"The document will not be complete without all of you because while we had input at a strategic level (CPD board) to tell us the 'what?' but the technical experts define the 'how?' and the ‘when?’," she said.
In addition, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Henrik Franklin appreciated the stakeholders' candid feedback. He said his main takeaway was the need for inclusive budgeting considering people with disabilities and gender equality.
“I hope Eswatini can make a big dent in poverty and youth unemployment in the next five years,” said Franklin.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms. Nessie Golakai-Gould, and Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse Executive Director, Ms. Nonhlanhla Dlamini.
This year marks the conclusion of the 2021–2025 CPD. Looking back over the past five years, UNDP Eswatini noted some key highlights in implementing the current CPD under its two portfolios: Efficient and Participatory Governance and Inclusive Sustainable Development Growth.
Efficient and Participatory Governance
• Increased participation in elections: Voter participation increased 4% within this election cycle from 560,091 in 2018 to 583,428 in 2013, resulting from civic education targeting traditional leaders.
• Increased women's political representation: Since independence, the number of elected women members of parliament has significantly increased from two in 2018 to eight in 2023. Overall, women's representation in both Houses—Assembly and Senate—stands at 28%, a record high following UNDP's support of civic education elections to encourage women's participation.
• Legal Aid established: The Legal Aid Office was launched and oriented 23 legal officials on the legislative and policy framework. Ongoing support includes advancing the Legal Practitioners Bill and the Legal Aid Bill, which were approved by Parliament in June 2024 and are awaiting final passage.
• Remote remand system: To improve the criminal justice sector's efficiency, a case management system was developed and is being rolled out. In addition, a remote remand system was established during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the government is scaling up.
• Digital transformation: Eswatini undertook a Digital readiness Assessment, which found the country to be systematically advancing in key areas of digital transformation.
Inclusive and Sustainable Inclusive Growth
• Advancing clean and affordable energy in public health systems: a one-megawatt solar system installed at one of Eswatini’s major health facilities the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, saving up to 72% in energy costs and reducing its carbon footprint by 200 tonnes.
• Improved access to potable water for rural communities: over 1,500 people from 200 households received clean water from solar-powered boreholes while one hospital and two schools with an enrollment of 374 learners and 23 teachers were connected to potable water.
• Strengthened early warning systems: 10 solar-powered automatic weather stations and eight automatic hydrometric gauge stations were installed to enhance early warning systems and reduce climate impact risks.
• Youth empowerment: 300 interns deployed across 70 entities to gain skills and experience while earning a monthly stipend. 360 youth artisans trained and received starter packs. As a result, 25% of graduate interns are employed, while 80% of artisanal youth have jobs or own businesses.
• Waste management: the UNDP-supported Phatsa Sakho Nawe campaign led to a ban on single-use plastics, increasing opportunities for MSMEs to generate income from the provision of sustainable alternatives while reducing plastic waste by about 30%
• Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME): The Ingelo Local certification scheme was successfully developed and launched, providing opportunities for MSMEs to build their capacity to access retail markets and enabling the government to commit at least 15 million emalangeni to them.
• Contributed to increased revenue from taxation: UNDP, through the Tax for SDGs initiative, supported the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS)in improving domestic revenue collections through various initiatives, such as capacitating the ERS to explore opportunities presented by the digital space. Domestic revenue grew by 10% in 2023.