European Union, Government of Swaziland review their cooperation
The review concluded that Swaziland’s co-operation with the EU was proceeding to the satisfaction of the partners. The milestone achievement of the cooperation under the Cotonou Partnership in the past year was the finalisation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) ratified on the 10th October 2016. Swaziland will now benefit from a new era of duty free and quota free market access to the European Union through the EPA.
During this occasion, the EU and Swaziland also signed a new Financing Agreement worth 5 million Euros (approx. 73 million SZL) in which the EU will support Capacity Strengthening and Technical Cooperation for the Government of Swaziland and Non-State Actors. EU Ambassador to Swaziland, Nicola Bellomo signed on behalf of the EU whilst the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Bertram Stewart, who is also the National Authorising Officer (NAO), signed on behalf of the Government of Swaziland.
Speaking on the occasion, EU Ambassador, Nicola Bellomo, said the EU was proud of its continued partnership with the Kingdom of Swaziland which has remained active for more than 40 years now and will continue to remain strong for many years to come.
"It is in the interest of the EU to enhance the economic, commercial and cultural exchanges between Europe and Swaziland and the EU is proud of the work accomplished through this development cooperation between the EU and Swaziland," said Bellomo.
He added that the cooperation is an inclusive process which also involves Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-State Actors (NSAs).
Bellomo further highlighted that in 2017 the EU-Swaziland development cooperation will undergo a strategic review, including a mid-term review of the 11th EDF National Indicative Programme. The EU priority areas going forward will be sustainable growth and job creation, renewable energy and climate change. These areas are also of prime importance to the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Speaking on the same occasion, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Bertram Stewart, expressed sincere gratitude to the European Union for the financial and moral support provided during the recent period of drought. He announced that the joint EU-GoS programme performed well
achieving a total disbursement of E 320 million in 2016.
In respect to economic and rural development several major transport infrastructure works were completed, including the Siphofaneni to St Philips road and bridges and the Dvolkowako-Mananza road. The Siphofaneni, Somntongo & Matsanjeni (SISOMA) project for the extension of piped water supply to benefit some 60,000
people was completed, as was the rehabilitation of Malkerns Canal.
Despite the difficult circumstances brought on by the drought, partners in the sugar sector continued to implement EU Sugar Facility Grants for the development of smallholder schemes, of which some 1,105 ha were developed since 2015. After a decade of implementation the National Adaptation Strategy for the sugar sector will come to an end in 2017, having brought many benefits to the industry and to the country.
On the social development side, 2016 saw the establishment of the E 84 million support for the establishment of a social protection system in Swaziland. The cofunded EU – World Bank HIV/AIDs,TB Project oversaw the construction of four new health centres (mini hospitals) at Mkhuzweni, Nhlangano, Dvokolwako and
Matsanjeni and four rural clinics at Lavumisa, Dwalile, Mangweni and Ikhwezi. The PS also confirmed that the EU funded Support to Education and Training Project (SET II) will continue to provide FPE grants to grade 1 pupils for the whole of 2017 and half of 2018, at which stage the EU SET II Financing Agreement reaches the end
of its implementation period.
The EU and the Government of Swaziland recently approved two new Programme Estimates for support to education and training with a total value of E 45 million for the period 2017 and 2018. He also approved a Programme Estimate for the 11th EDF Water Harvesting Small Earth Dam Project with a total value of E 42 million for the period 2016 to 2021. This project has an ambitious plan to construct 75 small medium dams and reservoirs. These programme estimates were endorsed by the EU Delegation in December and January 2017.
Stewart told those assembled that the European Union remains Swaziland’s foremost development partner in terms of; the breath of our cooperation on development and trade at national, regional and international level; the number of sectors that are being supported, and in terms of the way the support is integrated with the
Government’s national priorities and programmes. He thanked all the implementing partners including GoS, Private Sector and Non State Actors for the good work done and looked forward to continued cooperation in 2017 and beyond.