Manzini – The government of Eswatini, together with development partners, has begun consultations with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to develop the country’s next five-year Country Programming Framework (CPF). The process, launched this week at the George Hotel, is expected to guide investment and policy support towards transforming agrifood systems, achieving food sovereignty, and promoting sustainable agricultural growth from 2026 to 2030.
Speaking at the engagement, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Sydney Simelane commended FAO for its role during the 2022–2025 CPF, saying the organisation has “remained a reliable partner in advancing government priorities under the National Development Plan.” He added that FAO’s support had “translated policy intentions into tangible results on the ground.”
Simelane cited milestones achieved through the partnership, including support for the establishment and operationalisation of the Eswatini Agriculture Fund, which he described as “a critical vehicle for financing agricultural development.” He also highlighted farmer training programmes on climate-smart agriculture that have helped producers adapt to climate change while building resilience, as well as infrastructure support such as shade nets and tunnels for youth farmer groups. “These initiatives have not only boosted productivity but have also created opportunities for young people to engage meaningfully in agriculture,” Simelane said. “These achievements demonstrate FAO’s commitment to working hand in hand with the Government of Eswatini to transform our agriculture sector.”
Despite these gains, Simelane warned that significant challenges remain, particularly in food security, poverty, youth unemployment, and limited value addition along agricultural value chains. He stressed that the government’s push for agrifood systems transformation to secure food sovereignty had “become increasingly urgent.” “We need to accelerate efforts to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems that can withstand shocks and deliver on our development aspirations,” he said.
Simelane also called attention to the importance of resource mobilisation for the success of the next CPF, urging increased investment and stronger partnerships. “We need to attract more investments and partnerships to curb the continuing scourge of poverty, food insecurity, unemployment among youth, and limited value addition in our agricultural value chains,” he said, noting that these issues reflect the lived realities of communities that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
He added that the consultative workshop offered “a valuable platform for stakeholders to jointly identify FAO’s comparative advantage in supporting Eswatini’s priorities over the next five years” and encouraged participants to “engage openly and contribute innovative ideas that would ensure the new CPF is responsive to national needs and development goals.”
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