BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE– The signing of strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), led by the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), will help Eswatini advance six United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The agreements, signed on Tuesday, 16 December 2025 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, formalise partnerships between EWADE and key Government ministries and parastatals, strengthening coordinated action in agricultural development.
The partnerships bring together EWADE and four strategic institutions, all committed to improving agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods.
Institutions that signed MoUs with EWADE
- Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA)
- Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development (MTAD)
- National Maize Corporation (NMC)
- Eswatini Environmental Authority (EEA)
These MoUs form the second phase of EWADE’s partnership framework. On 16 September 2025, EWADE signed the first batch of agreements with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) and the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard), ensuring broad institutional alignment in support of smallholder farmers.
Speaking at the event, EWADE Chief Executive Officer Dr Samson Sithole said the partnerships are designed to move cooperation from “good intentions to structured action”, while directly advancing six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
UN Sustainable Development Goals advanced
- SDG 1: No Poverty – Increasing rural incomes and livelihoods
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Enhancing food security and nutrition
- SDG 5: Gender Equality – Empowering women in agribusiness and farming
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating jobs, especially for youth
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Promoting climate-smart agriculture
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Strengthening collaboration across sectors
The MoUs are aligned with the Smallholder Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and Marketing Project (SAPEMP), launched in March 2025. SAPEMP is implemented by EWADE with support from the Government of Eswatini, IFAD and the Green Climate Fund, and is expected to benefit over 19,600 households, reaching nearly 117,700 people nationwide.
Key objectives of SAPEMP
- Increase smallholder production, nutrition and incomes
- Improve market access and access to finance
- Build resilience to climate change
- Strengthen the policy and institutional environment
Core SAPEMP components
Component 1: Production and Productivity
- Cluster-based, market-led production
- Infrastructure investments for commercialisation
Component 2: Market Linkages and Finance
- Capacity building for farmer clusters and enterprises
- Long-term offtake agreements with markets
Component 3: Enabling Environment
- Policy advocacy
- Project management and coordination
Key achievements supported by partners
- Improved climate and early warning systems through MTEA
- Community-level planning and site profiling facilitated by MTAD
- Strengthened maize and legumes value chains with NMC
- Promotion of environmental sustainability and green innovation with EEA
EWADE reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, innovation and inclusive growth, with a strong focus on women and youth. The organisation called on all partners to ensure the MoUs translate into real impact at farmer level.
The partnerships mark a shared national commitment to transforming Eswatini’s agriculture into a competitive, resilient and sustainable sector—one that delivers lasting benefits for farmers, communities and the economy.
