Welcome to the UN Swaziland Team

  UN Country Team Mission Statement

In support of the National Vision 2022, and based on the values and norms of the United Nations, the Swaziland UN Country Team (UNCT) is committed to working together as an effective and catalytic partner in the attainment of socio economic prosperity and empowerment of the people of Swaziland.

The UNCT strikes to advocate and build partnerships that support harmonized implementation of programmes of good governance; enhanced human rights; gender equity and equality and disaster management.  The UNCT is guided by values and principles of the UN Charter and drawing from key international instruments, builds on its unique strengths of neutrality and global experiences.  The UNCT is cognizant that Swaziland is engaged in a process of political, economic and social transformation and supports the mobilization of political commitment, technical and financial resources needed for the attainment of the development goals.  The UNCT actively supports the nation’s best case scenario as articulated in the National Development Strategy (NDS), to reach its “Vision 2022”.

Resident  Coordinator’s System

UNDP acts as the host agency for the Resident Coordinator system and is funded through resources  raised by UNDP, the UN Development Group and contribution as from the various UN agencies.The UN system is headed by a Resident Coordinator (RC) who is the designated representative of the United Nations Secretary  General for the coordination of development operations at the country level. 

In Swaziland, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Chinwe Dike also acts as Designated Official for security.  The UN coordination brings together the following UN agencies residing in Swaziland (also known as the UN Country  Team): UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNFPA, UNAIDS, FAO and UNDP as well as  non resident agencies (UNESCO, IFAD, ILO, UNIFEM).

The Bretton Woods institutions (World Bank and the IMF) normally consult with the UN Country Team each time they have missions in the country.  The Resident Coordinator chairs monthly UN Country Team meetings, which forms the ultimate framework for coordinated UN operational activities in Swaziland.

Through these meetings, the UN seeks to improve its synergy and effectiveness, promote harmonized activities and provide comprehensive responses to Swaziland’s development challenges.  The Resident Coordinator chairs monthly meetings with development partners who comprise of the Embassy of  the Government  of the United States of America, the European Commission, the Italian Cooperation. the Government of South Africa and the German Liaison  Office.

The RC system responds to the requirements of the UN Reforms, introduced by the Secretary General to encourage the UN to ‘deliver as one’.  UN activities in Swaziland are determined by the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Drawn every five years in close collaboration with the Government of Swaziland and  national stakeholders, the UNDAF is the overarching framework which sets the priorities for the UN system in the country.

The  adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP) in September 2007 as the national development framework for the country presented an opportunity to the UN Country Team to harmonize the outcomes of the UNDAF (2006-2010) with the objectives expressed in the pillars of the PRSAP.  In November 2007 , in responding to the UN Reform of ‘delivering as one’ the  UN presented a Joint UN Annual Programme Review of all the UN agencies  resident in the country and aligned its report against the objectives of the PRSAP.

 The current UNDAF identifies the following as its primary areas of intervention in Swaziland:

• A strengthened and intensified multi-sectoral national response to HIV and AIDS
• Reduction of poverty levels by 25% from the current level of 69% through the formulation of pro- poor policies, strategies and programmes
• Improved food security for the Swazi population
• Improved access to basic social services especially for vulnerable/disadvantaged groups
• Enhanced /strengthened capacity of key national and local level institutions for improved governance

The six pillars of the PRSAP are listed as follows:

• Macro-Economic Stability &Accelerated Growth Based on Broad Participation
• Fair Distribution of Benefits of Growth Through Fiscal Policy
• Empowering the Poor to Generate Income and Reduce Inequalities
• Human Capital Development
• Improving the quality of the Life of the Poor
• Improving the Governance and Strengthening Institutions

By coordinating activities within the UN family and serving as a bridge between the UN and the Government of Swaziland, its development partners, donors, civil society, and the private sector, the RC system plays an instrumental role in the support of national development efforts.

UNDP and United Nations Partnership

 How UNDP works to promote the effectiveness of the entire UN family in Swaziland?

 UNDP the lead agency of the Resident Coordinator System

The Resident Coordinator System in Swaziland has been at the center of driving the UN Reform agenda. Through UNDP the RC System manages the UN Support to the Resident Coordination Funds, which are managed under UNDP’s ATLAS system.

 Administrative support

 In 2007, UNDP has continued to support the UN Resident Coordination Unit by paying the costs of the office space occupied by the Unit and that of UNAIDS. In most instances, transport used by the RC unit is provided by UNDP. UNDP also provides telecommunications and financial management services for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and UNAIDS.

 Aid Coordination: Aid Effectiveness and the Paris Declaration

 Consistent with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Report of the Secretary General’s High Level Panel, the UN System in Swaziland has shared its annual work plan on HIV and AIDS with national stakeholders and donors. The UN has also embarked on a strategic dialogue with Development Partners on their various programmes in the area of HIV and AIDS. This initiative has resulted in the sharing of vital information, which will reduce duplication and create access to information for effective programme planning and improve collaboration.

 In November 2007, all seven agencies of the United Nations System in Swaziland successfully staged the first Joint Annual Programme Review for the purpose of taking stock of the on-going development assistance cooperation with the Government. This process enabled government and national stakeholders to review the work of the UN delivering as one and also demonstrated the scope and possibilities of programme cohesiveness.

 Support to non-resident agencies

 UNDP continued to provide administrative support to non-resident agencies such as UNESCO, UNODC, IMF, IFAD and ILO. UNDP convened meetings and procured services for those agencies requiring such assistance. In addition, UNDP facilitated protocol services such as preparations of Note Verbales and provision of immigration services for non-resident agencies.

  Champion and cheerleader of the MDGs:

Through an advocacy campaign led by UNDP, government adopted the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP) as the primary vehicle for the attainment of the MDGs in Swaziland. Through support to the PRSAP,  UNDP has been able to take the MDGs to key sectors  and constituencies in the country, including government and traditional leadership, legislators,  civil society and the private sector.

 On the reforms that are essential for the success of national poverty reduction efforts, assistance provided by UNDP towards the effective implementation of the PRSAP has enabled government to integrate the MDGs into the primary national development priorities as identified in the National Development Strategy

 HIV and AIDS

UNDP continued to be actively involved in the Joint UN Team on HIV and AIDS (JUTA) through its commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS contributed to Joint Programmes. UNDP’s work in Joint Programmes has been in the area of Stigma and Discrimination.  This programme between UNDP and WHO aims to reduce stigma and discrimination against those infected with HIV.

Contribution to Gender Equality

 UNDP has actively participated in and contributed budget support to activities of the UN Theme Group on Gender. These interventions supported the 365 days campaign against gender-based violence. Through UNDP’s collaboration with the European Commission towards the implementation of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), UNDP will be contributing to eliminate gender inequality and promoting respect for and observation of basic human rights in Swaziland. 

 Disaster Risk Reduction

 In 2007, the country declared a national drought disaster. The entire UNCT mobilized resources through a CERF and a FLASH appeal. Complementary to that collaborative effort, UNDP mobilized resources with the objective of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into all development programmes. The results of this intervention will be to minimize the impacts of natural disasters on the population. The project will also develop an Early Recovery Strategy in order to integrate the practice of emergency response with recovery and thus engender the concept of sustainable human development.