This strategy has been developed as part of the Kingdom of Swaziland and UN joint programmes commitment to reduce poverty to 50% by 2015 and eradicate it by 2022. It is aligned to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development article 17.1 which states that ‘States and parties shall by 2015, adopt policies and enact laws which ensure access, benefit and opportunities for women and men in trade and entrepreneurship, taking into  account the contribution  of women in the formal and informal sectors’1.

It also responds to the overall goal of the Government of Swaziland and UN Joint Programme on Gender.