Attachments
In Numbers
*USD 2.2 million six months net funding requirements, representing 39% of total requirement (November to April 2026)
Operational Updates
Homegrown School Feeding (HGSF)
• WFP delivered trainings in 46 primary schools across Eswatini under the Mastercard-funded Homegrown School Feeding Programme. The initiative targets approximately 20,000 primary school learners, who will benefit from diversified and nutritious meals once distributions begin.
• The programme also supports smallholder farmers identified by the Ministry of Agriculture. These farmers are located near the participating schools to ensure efficient, localised procurement of fresh produce. By linking nearby farmer groups to schools, the programme strengthens market access for smallholders. Training participants included staff from the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Agriculture, and school personnel such as headteachers, focal teachers, and cooks.
• The sessions covered stock management, food storage, roles and responsibilities, nutrition and dietary diversity, cooking methods, and SCOPE registration—equipping schools with the full operational understanding required for implementation. Through this WFP is helping establish structured school-based procurement models that boost farmer incomes and ensure that learners receive highquality meals.
The Just Energy Transition
• WFP, in partnership with the Solar Training and Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Centre (STREEC), conducted site-specific feasibility assessments for biogas solutions in six Neighbourhood Care Points (community cooking centres). A total of 128 participants took part across the six communities, including traditional leaders, community members, development committees, and NCP caregivers.
Economic Forecast
• Eswatini’s economic outlook for 2025 is positive, with growth projected at 4.2–4.9 percent, driven by services and infrastructure projects. However, agricultural growth is expected to slow, and several risks remain. The country faces youth unemployment of about 58 percent, persistent infrastructure gaps, and an urgent need for structural reforms to strengthen private sector development. While inflation is easing, potential shocks and a possible decline in Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) revenues could place pressure on the fiscal outlook.