Economy

MBABANE - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant of about E11.76 million (equivalent to (US$862 516) under the Middle-Income Country Technical Assistance Fund (MIC-TAF).

This is meant to support the creation of the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Programme Holistic Approach Development Master Plan (MNWAP-HADMP).

This is according to the grant appraisal report published by the AfDB.

Government will contribute an additional E1.08 million (US$79 200) in kind, bringing the total project cost to approximately E12.84 million (US$ 714 174).

The funds will support an ambitious integrated master plan that aims to transform the Shiselweni Region-traditionally the country’s poorest area-into a thriving economic hub through coordinated investments in water, agriculture, energy, housing and industrial infrastructure.

The approved grant marks a key milestone in Eswatini’s efforts to address poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the Shiselweni Region.

The master plan will lay the groundwork for a ‘holistic development model’, aligning with the country’s National Development Plan (2023–2028) and Vision 2030 goal of attaining developed country status.

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Private sector part of project

MBABANE - The project steering committee (PSC), chaired by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, will provide overall strategic guidance.

Members will include key ministries-Agriculture, Finance, Trade and Industry, Energy, Transport, Health and Housing-as well as private-sector stakeholders like Maloma Colliery, Illovo Sugar Africa and Nisela Game Safaris.

EWADE will establish a project implementation unit (PIU) comprising a coordinator, procurement officer, project accountant and monitoring and evaluation officer to oversee daily operations.

The project places women and youth at the centre of Eswatini’s economic transformation. It has been classified as Category II under the AfDB’s Gender Marker System, ensuring gender equality and social inclusion in every aspect of implementation.

Half of the 20 000 projected jobs will be reserved for women, while youth and persons with disabilities will receive targeted training and employment opportunities under the Centre of Excellence initiative.

The operation has been assigned Category 1 under the AfDB’s Integrated Safeguards System, reflecting its link to the larger MNWAP infrastructure projects, which may have potential environmental implications. However, the bank notes that the technical assistance activities themselves carry low environmental and social risk.

Furthermore, the project is fully aligned with the bank’s Climate Change and Green Growth Strategy (2021–2030), ensuring that climate resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management form the backbone of the master plan.

The initiative supports multiple policy frameworks, including:

• Eswatini Country Strategy Paper (2020–2024), which prioritises infrastructure and private-sector development.
• AfDB’s 10-Year Strategy and High-5 priorities, particularly ‘Industrialise Africa’ and ‘Improve the Quality of life for the people of Africa.’
• Jobs for youth in Africa Strategy (2016–2025), which aims to create 25 million jobs continent-wide.
• SADC regional integration objectives, promoting trade and investment across borders.

*Full article available in our publication.

Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Dr Samson Sithole. EWADE will establish a project implementation unit comprising a coordinator, procurement officer, project accountant and monitoring and evaluation officer to oversee daily operations. (Pic: File)