Swaziland

Our Vision

To be a respected, trusted broker and reliable development partner that promotes sustainable human development through advocacy and empowerment for government and the people of Swaziland.

Our Values

We value transparency, accountability and professionalism in all we do.
As a multicultural team, we greatly respect diversity and leverage cultural differences in our work.

Our Mission

We are committed to assisting the government and people of Swaziland through policy support to reduce poverty through advocacy for pro poor policies; respond to and reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence; strengthen governance and support implementation of the 2006 constitution; improve the status of marginalized and historically vulnerable groups including women and youth; manage the environment and mobilize domestic and external resources for sustainable human development and the attainment of the MDGs.  

What we aim to accomplish

In line with the UN Millennium Development  Goals (MDGs) to reduce world poverty in half by 2015, UNDP Swaziland  has crafted strategies to focus on:

• Governance and Gender Mainstreaming

Swaziland system of governance is characterised by the interactions among the traditional system and Westminster models of governance. In pursuit of this unique governance system, the Kingdom has endeavoured to develop modern political and administrative structures whose electoral, appointive and operational legitimacy are rooted in, and complemented by the traditional institutions.  More...

• Poverty Reduction

Swaziland is a low middle-income country with a per capita income of about U$1350, over twice the Sub-Saharan African average. However, the proportion of the population living below the poverty line is 69% (of which 63% are females and 37% males) and these are subsisting on less than E128.6 (US$ 24) per capita per month in 2004. This shows the extreme poverty prevailing in the country. Poverty indices also show that women are the worst affected in Swaziland and as such, female-headed homes account for the highest number of poverty stricken families.

• HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming

In 2006, HIV&AIDS remains one of the greatest barriers to human development in Swaziland. An estimated 220,000 adults and children, about one-fifth of the entire population, are living with HIV&AIDS. Estimated HIV prevalence amongst women attending antenatal clinics has risen to an unprecedented 42.6% in 2004.