Government officials, municipal leaders, civil society actors, and development partners met in Manzini from 7–8 May 2025 to validate Eswatini’s draft Voluntary National Review (VNR) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR). The workshop, held at The George Hotel, was hosted by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, UNDP, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and UNDESA.
The gathering served to refine the country’s report ahead of its presentation at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Political Forum, where Eswatini will share its progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim was to ensure that data and insights reflect national realities and align with both domestic priorities and global development frameworks.
Principal Secretary Thabsile Mlangeni from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development said Eswatini is among only seven countries preparing to present its VNR for a third time, a move that reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to Agenda 2030.
While the report addresses all 17 SDGs, the discussions focused on five key goals of national relevance: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Attendees included senior government officials, mayors, municipal CEOs, private sector representatives, and civil society organisations,
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