25 per cent emaSwati extremely poor - WFP
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M– Over 25 per cent emaSwati are extremely poor.
This statistic is contained in a report done by the World Food Programme (WFP), where it indicated that a quarter of the over 1.1 million, which is the country’s estimated population, is living below the national poverty line.
“Despite its status as a lower middle-income country, 69 per cent of the rural population in Eswatini live below the national poverty line and 25 per cent are extremely poor,” reads the report.
Worth noting is that the Eswatini economy is fairly varied, with many growing industries and a government focus on developing trade. The main industries are coal mining, timber, sugar and foodstuffs. The main trade is with South Africa due to their geographic connection.
WFP has been present in Eswatini since the late 1960s, providing emergency relief and implementing development projects to strengthen the education and health sectors.
Today, WFP supports the Government of Eswatini in improving food and nutrition security and creating safety nets for the most vulnerable people impacted by poverty, and HIV and AIDS.
Unemployment extreme rate
Unemployment Rate in Eswatini is expected to reach 26.00 per cent by the end of 2022, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations.
Eswatini is highly dependent on imports to feed its people, as national production is constrained by frequent droughts, erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, inadequate farming technologies, low investment in seeds, fertilisers and equipment, and structural barriers preventing access to formal markets.
According to WFP, the proportion of people living in poverty remains very high, with poverty levels having decreased from 63 per cent in 2010 to 58.9 per cent in 2018. Notwithstanding a high gross domestic product per capita of USD 3 850, Eswatini, with a Gini co-efficient of 51.5 has the 10th highest income inequality in the world. Seventy per cent of the rural population lives below the national poverty line and 25 per cent is considered extremely poor. Owing to structural inequalities, woman-headed households are more likely to be poor and have restricted access to productive assets, employment opportunities, education and health services.
The level of hunger is classified as ‘serious’ in the 2018 Global Hunger Index, where Eswatini has a score of 22.5. In addition, annual vulnerability analyses indicate that an average of 35 451 very poor and poor households have experienced food insecurity in the past 10 years; a similar number of households (35 349) have been identified as ‘extremely poor’ in a quantitative assessment of social assistance.
Furthermore, the national strategy for sustainable development and inclusive growth through 2030 and the strategic road map for 2019–2022, which guide the development and economic recovery of Eswatini, recognise the critical dimensions of human development, including poverty reduction, employment creation, gender equity and social integration. The key priority sectors include agriculture, agro-processing, social assistance and emergency preparedness and response.
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HigH Strategic prevalence
Eswatini also has a very high HIV prevalence, affecting 26 per cent of the population between the ages of 15 and 49.
With 26 per cent of the adult population infected, Eswatini has the highest rate of HIV prevalence in the world. Women are disproportionately affected, with 35 per cent living with HIV compared to 19 per cent of men. Over 46 per cent of the population is under the age of 20 and 58 per cent of children under the age of 17 are orphaned and vulnerable due to AIDS.
The report indicates that the life expectancy is 49 years, and 45 per cent of children are orphaned or vulnerable. Chronic malnutrition is the main concern in Eswatini; stunting affects 26 per cent of children under the age of five.
Meanwhile, Eswatini is vulnerable to drought in the south-east. Smallholder agriculture remains the backbone of rural livelihoods in the country, with over 70 percent of the country’s total population (60 per cent of whom are women) relying on subsistence farming.
Strategic plan
The Eswatini zero hunger strategic review reveals that poverty is closely associated with hunger and gender inequality. Gaps in policy enforcement, legal frameworks and the allocation of resources limit the effectiveness of social protection programmes in addressing hunger, women’s empowerment and HIV.
In its report WFP notes that the insufficient capacities undermine the efficiency of programme design, implementation and knowledge management, while weak institutional coordination causes duplication of efforts and hinders the development of complementary policy implementation.
This country strategic plan is aligned with the government’s priorities with regard to achieving food and nutrition security, with a focus on gender-transformative and HIV-sensitive actions.
It is based on three pillars with the following outcomes: Strategic outcome 1:
Vulnerable people in shock-affected areas are able to meet their basic food and nutrition needs during times of crisis;
Smallholder farmers, particularly women, have enhanced capacities to supply structured markets with nutritious foods by 2024;
Strategic outcome outcome 2:
By 2030 equitable, integrated and shock-responsive social protection systems are accessible to vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, adolescent girls and people living with HIV.
In the same report WFP has indicated that it will pursue its shift to providing technical assistance, services and coordination support for national food and nutrition security policies and programmes through gender-transformative approaches that enable progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Nutrition-sensitive programming will guide the various interventions in the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) portfolio. Safe, accessible and responsive feedback and complaint mechanisms will be mainstreamed throughout the CSP.
The prominence of technical support and capacity strengthening reflects efforts to engage in evidence generation and a gradual transition to sustainable national ownership.