The Kingdom of Eswatini Launches an Ambitious NDC Implementation Plan to Drive Inclusive Climate Action
3 May, 2023, Mbabane, Eswatini -The Kingdom of Eswatini officially launched a USD1.3 billion NDC Implementation Plan for 2020-2030, outlining the country’s ambitions and requirements to effectively enhance climate action and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Plan covers twelve national priority areas, including agriculture, health, water, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure, energy, waste, industry, forestry, gender, youth and disaster risk reduction.
A milestone in Eswatini’s efforts to address climate change, the NDC Implementation Plan is based on the revised NDC submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in October 2021, and evidences the country’s contributions to the global effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Eswatini’s revised NDC was made possible through direct assistance and guidance from the NDC Partnership through the Climate Action Enhance Package (CAEP), specifically, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Commonwealth and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), together with other key development partners.
Standing in for the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Themba Masuku, the Honourable Moses Vilakati, Minister from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) noted that the NDC is the result of a “homegrown, stakeholder-driven process” spearheaded by both the MTEA and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD). Masuku concluded by thanking the NDC Partnership for their support, saying: “The NDC implementation Plan will soon be uploaded on the government website; in the interim, it can be accessed via the NDC Partnership’s website and will be revised on an ongoing basis with inputs from all stakeholders. Tracking progress is very important so that we gather lessons learned and improve on a continuous basis.”
NDC Partnership Global Director Pablo Vieira congratulated all involved, recognizing: “This ten-year Implementation Plan serves as a powerful blueprint for climate action in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The diversity of stakeholders at the launch is a demonstration of the depth of local ownership and promising a sign for the Plan’s long-term success.” Margaret Barihaihi, the NDC Partnership’s Regional Manager for Africa, reiterated the Partnership’s congratulations to Eswatini and shared an overview of the Partnership’s direct involvement in the development of the NDC. The launch also highlighted translations of the NDC and the Inclusive Budgeting and Financing for Climate Change (IBFCC) report into siSwati, the official language of Eswatini, and braille.
The Deputy Prime Minister also launched the IBFCC report developed with UNDP support in 2022, spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance. The IBFCC process will enable Eswatini to monitor public budgets and strengthen links between national climate change policy and domestic public finances to promote climate resilience. “The climate dimension in tracking budgets and expenditures will be crucial to ensure that climate sensitive activity is recognized within the budget framework,” said the attending Minister of Finance, Hon. Neal Rijkenberg, calling on development partners to support the country’s efforts to mobilize resources to realize the commitments outlined in the two newly launched documents.
The United Nations (UN) Eswatini Resident Coordinator, Mr. George Wachira, congratulated the Government for submitting an inclusive NDC that left no one behind, adding: “Climate action remains a priority of the United Nations and it is our desire to live in a healthy planet that our future generations can call home. The UN stands ready to support Eswatini in realising the NDC Implementation Plan.”
The Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Hon. Dr Tambo Gina, represented by the Principal Secretary Ms.Thabsile Mlangeni said, “At the Ministry, we appreciate that climate change is a development issue, hence our revised National Development Plan has integrated climate issues as we prepare for a joint NDP-NDC Investment Plan.” Further words of congratulations and offers of support were provided by representatives from the UNDP, the WFP, UNEP, UNICEF, the FAO and the Indian High Commission.
The Implementation Plan provides a clear platform for sharing and tracking accomplishments over time, allowing Eswatini’s government and development partners to identify key strategic priorities to guide collective resource mobilization and action. This will greatly assist in synergizing collective efforts towards holistic sustainable development, reducing duplication of efforts and pursuing development narratives that do not reflect national priorities and realities.
Eswatini's NDC Implementation Plan, now officially launched, is a testament to the country's commitment to address the urgent and complex challenge of climate change and will provide a roadmap for action and a vision for a more sustainable future for all emaSwati.
Eswatini’s NDC Implementation Plan may be viewed online here:
https://ndcpartnershipplans.com/public/view/9a3433b1-a9a7-42a6-a98e-2fab...
Media Inquiries
Government of Eswatini:
Duduzile Nhlengethwa-Masina, NDC Focal Point / Director of Dept. of Meteorology, Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs: climatechange.eswatini@gmail.com / +268 24048859
NDC Partnership:
Caitlin Pinkard, Communications Manager, Outreach & Governance, NDC Partnership Support Unit:
caitlin.pinkard@ndcpartnership.org
About the NDC Partnership
The NDC Partnership brings together more than 200 members, including more than 115 countries, developed and developing, and more than 80 institutions to create and deliver on ambitious climate action that help achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance, and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development.