BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE – The Minister of Economic Planning and Development Tambo Gina has called for urgent and decisive action in implementing Eswatini’s new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030, warning that the country cannot afford delays while poverty and unemployment continue to rise.
Speaking during the inaugural session of the Joint National Steering Committee (JNSC) held in Mbabane on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Gina urged government ministries, development agencies and civil society organisations to move beyond administrative planning and focus on tangible implementation.
The Minister said the country’s development agenda must be guided by His Majesty King Mswati III’s directive of “Nkwe!” — a national call for rapid execution and decisive action.
“This occasion marks a defining moment rather than a routine meeting,” Gina said while co-chairing the session alongside the United Nations Resident Coordinator. “Today, we take our first decisive step forward by turning our shared commitments into concrete, time-bound and accountable action plans.”
He described the UNSDCF 2026–2030 as a critical partnership framework between Government and the United Nations Development System, aimed at accelerating sustainable development and improving the lives of Emaswati.
Highlighting the urgency of the national situation, Gina said approximately 58.9 percent of the population continues to live in poverty, while youth unemployment has surpassed 50 percent.
“With our Gini coefficient remaining among the highest in the world, we must act with relentless urgency,” the Minister said. “The Cooperation Framework is our vehicle to turn this crisis into opportunity.”
He noted that the framework aligns directly with the National Development Plan 2023–2028 and the 2024 Government Policy Statement on Economic, Social and Governance Transformation.
The Minister further revealed that significant progress had already been made since the signing and launch of the cooperation framework in November 2025. Government and the UN Country Team, he said, had already developed costed Joint Work Plans for the 2026–2027 implementation period.
According to Gina, the plans are designed to align United Nations support directly with national planning and budgeting systems while ensuring accountability and measurable outcomes.
“Our mandate is clear,” he said. “We must provide strategic direction, ensure rigorous alignment with national priorities and strengthen accountability between Government and the United Nations system.”
A key focus of the meeting was the formal endorsement of the Joint Work Plans for both Results Groups under the framework. Gina emphasized that the plans should not be viewed as administrative documents, but rather as practical tools for delivering impact in sectors such as health, education, governance and economic empowerment.
He also stressed the importance of establishing a strong governance structure that would oversee implementation, collaboration and reporting mechanisms across all thematic pillars.
“To ensure accountability, effective collaboration and credible reporting, we must finalize a fit-for-purpose structure,” he said.
The Minister challenged line ministries and central government agencies to take full ownership of the process and integrate the framework into their daily operations.
“My directive to the line ministries and central agencies present here is ‘own this process and embed it into your daily work,’” Gina stated. “The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development is your partner in coordination, but implementation is a collective duty.”
He concluded by calling on civil society organisations and international development partners to commit technical, policy and financial support towards the implementation of the framework.
“To our partners and civil society representatives, your accountability and expertise are indispensable,” the Minister said. “Together, we can turn this framework into tangible, transformative change for the people of Eswatini.”
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