The formulation of policies and subsequent development programmes in Eswatini has previously not been backed by evidence. Consequently, the impact of such policies and programmes could neither be clearly ascertained nor reported on. The establishment of ESEPARC was meant to address this concern. For this purpose, ESEPARC conducts economic policy research and analysis on key development issues that impact on the country’s development. This is especially aimed at to promoting the culture of evidence-based public policy decision-making for effective planning and programming.

The overall goal of ESEPARC is to build sustainable national capacity that must improve the quality and timeliness of public policies in Eswatini, within the existing national policy and legislative framework. To achieve this goal, research is conducted internally by the Centre’s researchers or commissioned to external consultants/independent researchers. The Centre’s research focuses on three key thematic areas; Employment, Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods; Governance, Public Sector Reforms, and Service Delivery; Economic Growth, Trade, and Industrialisation.