On 17 April 2025, the British High Commissioner to Eswatini, H.E. Colin Wells, joined UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Henrik Franklin and Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Nessie Golakai-Gould on a visit to Bulimeni, a remote community in the Manzini Region, to witness how rural women are using sustainable energy to power their businesses.
The visit showcased the impact of the Powering Gender Equality Project, an initiative led by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and funded by the Governments of Luxembourg and the Republic of Korea. Despite being off the national electricity grid, Bulimeni is home to Siyakhula Bomake Cooperative, a group of 10 women who use biogas technology to run a baking business supplying nearby schools and communities.
The UK Government, one of UNDP’s key contributors, supports projects like these by funding UNDP’s core resources, which are crucial for implementing sustainable development initiatives across Eswatini.
Speaking during the visit, H.E. Colin Wells remarked on the resilience and innovation of the women, noting the stark contrast between life in Bulimeni and the conveniences of urban Mbabane. Mr. Henrik Franklin praised the cooperative’s determination and organizational strength, while Ms. Nokuthula Mngometulu, Treasurer of Siyakhula Bomake, said the training in renewable energy and business management had transformed their operations and improved their financial management.
In addition to baking, the cooperative plans to use the organic fertilizer produced from the biogas process to start a vegetable farming project.
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