The World Food Programme (WFP) has donated resources valued at over E850,000 to Eswatini’s Deputy Prime Minister’s Office in a move aimed at strengthening the development of the National Dynamic Social Registry (NDSR).
The donation, which includes a Toyota Land Cruiser, laptops, and other essential equipment, was handed over by WFP representative Ashraful Amin and received by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla during an official presentation.
According to Amin, the support is meant to enhance not only the NDSR rollout but also the annual assessments carried out by the DPM’s Office. He added that WFP remains committed to supporting the welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children in Eswatini. Through its daily meal programme at 863 neighborhood care points, the organisation currently reaches over 27,500 children every day.
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla welcomed the donation, describing it as timely, given the government’s ongoing efforts to build a reliable and dynamic registry system. She said the NDSR will play a central role in improving the targeting of beneficiaries across social protection programmes in the country.
“The Office is currently administering multiple support initiatives such as the OVC education grant, disability and elderly grants, funeral cover for senior citizens, and assistance to child-headed households. However, without a central data system, some of these programmes risk missing the most vulnerable,” Dladla said.
She noted that challenges like duplication of benefits have continued to weaken the efficiency of social support systems. With the NDSR in place, the government expects to eliminate such gaps and ensure that aid reaches those in greatest need.
The registry is designed to collect and store detailed socioeconomic data from households throughout Eswatini. It will use indicators drawn from the country’s most recent household income and expenditure survey as well as the national vulnerability assessment.
Data collection for the NDSR has already commenced in the Shiselweni Region.
