Manzini, May 12, 2025 – The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) and key United Nations agencies, convened a two-day national validation workshop at The George Hotel in Manzini from May 7–8. Stakeholders from government, local municipalities, the private sector, and civil society gathered to scrutinize and refine Eswatini’s draft Voluntary National Review (VNR) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) ahead of the country’s presentation at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Political Forum.

The workshop served as a platform for a “whole-of-society” engagement, bringing together senior government officials, municipal mayors and councillors, CEOs of local authorities, private sector leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Over the two days, participants assessed how national policies and municipal actions align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that Eswatini’s achievements and challenges are accurately reflected in the reports.

In her opening remarks, Principal Secretary Thabsile Mlangeni of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development highlighted Eswatini’s distinction among only seven countries preparing their third VNR:

“Eswatini is among just seven countries globally preparing to present its VNR for the third time. This is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to implementing and tracking progress under Agenda 2030.”

While the draft report encompasses all SDGs, workshop discussions concentrated on five priority goals deemed most pertinent to national development:

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 14 – Life Below Water
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

These goals were identified through a series of preparatory consultations as reflecting Eswatini’s immediate development imperatives, from bolstering healthcare systems and advancing gender parity to promoting sustainable economic growth, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Workshop participants engaged in focused validation sessions, offering technical inputs, local data, and case studies illustrating progress at both national and municipal levels. Ideas for enhancing data quality, reporting consistency, and inter-ministerial coordination were tabled, laying the groundwork for a more robust and transparent final report.

The successful validation workshop represents a critical step toward finalizing Eswatini’s third VNR and underscores the nation’s leadership in sustainable development reporting. The finalized reviews will guide policy and planning, demonstrating Eswatini’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement in its pursuit of the 2030 Agenda.