The Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC) participated in the National Dialogue on Resilience Financing, hosted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) as part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2025 commemoration, held under the global theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”
The event brought together representatives from government ministries, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia to reflect on Eswatini’s progress in disaster management and explore new approaches to strengthen resilience across the country.
In his opening remarks, NDMA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mahlalela, reaffirmed Eswatini’s commitment to building a nation that is better prepared to withstand both natural and human-induced shocks. He highlighted the country’s progress in developing legislative and financial frameworks that support resilience, while emphasising the importance of compliance, monitoring, and integrating risk management into national planning and investment decisions.
Representing ESEPARC, Senior Research Fellow, Mrs. Tengetile Hlophe-Dlamini, joined Panel 2: Business, Academia & Civil Society – Partnerships for Resilience Financing, where she highlighted the critical role of research and evidence-based collaboration in shaping effective resilience policies. She underscored that partnerships in research help the country understand what challenges are being addressed, how, and when, ensuring that decisions on funding and investment are guided by credible evidence.
She further noted that research provides the foundation for informed decision-making, guiding where resources are allocated and helping to build long-term resilience within communities. She emphasised that research involves all stakeholders and that institutional participation in research initiatives strengthens national capacity to address emerging challenges.
The dialogue also reflected on Eswatini’s recent experiences with climate-related and socio-economic shocks, including the 2015–2016 drought and the 2022 floods in Lubombo, which highlighted the need for sustained investment in community-based preparedness and resilience.
Discussions throughout the event generated recommendations to inform Eswatini’s forthcoming Resilience Financing Framework (2026–2030), reaffirming NDMA’s and its partners’ commitment to institutionalising resilience financing as a pillar of sustainable development in Eswatini.
