Mbabane – The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) of Eswatini is set to host the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Disaster Risk Management Forum next week, from September 15th to 19th, 2025, an announcement which was made by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla on Thursday.
This event which NDMA will be hosting for the first time in its 10 years of existence, is expected to bring together over 150 delegates from across SADC and beyond at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini, with support from the World Bank.
Dladla emphasised the critical importance of proactive disaster management, particularly in the face of creeping crises like drought, further highlighting the insidious nature of droughts.
“Drought is often described as the silent crisis. Unlike floods or storms which arrive suddenly and with force, drought creeps in slowly and quietly. Its impacts, however, are profound and devastating. Agriculture, water supply, energy, public health, education, and business are all severely affected when drought sets in. Entire communities face deepening poverty, loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, and worsening inequality. The social and economic costs of drought run deep, leaving scars that can last for years,” she said.
Dladla recalled the severe El Niño induced drought of 2016, which consumed close to 19% of the government’s expenditure in that year alone. This costly experience, Dladla noted, taught Eswatini a crucial lesson: “The lessons from that experience challenged us not to wait for hazards to strike before we act.”
The upcoming forum will be a landmark event for Eswatini and the region, as it will witness the launch of two pivotal platforms: the Southern Africa Disaster Risk Reduction Platform and the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Eswatini.
These platforms are designed to foster policy dialogue, coordination, and engagement among diverse stakeholders, strengthening cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration to ensure that no country faces these challenges in isolation.
Another significant milestone to be celebrated at the forum is the establishment of the Eswatini Drought Centre of Excellence. This centre will serve the entire region, with a mission to generate knowledge, conduct technical research, support policy development, and facilitate the sharing of best practices.
Its establishment is expected to enhance the effectiveness of early warning systems, strengthen preparedness, and ultimately better protect communities from the devastating effects of drought.
The forum will also take the opportunity to celebrate champions of drought resilience, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to mitigating the impacts of drought in the region.
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