Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini on Monday met with World Food Programme (WFP) Country Representative Nanga Kaye at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Eswatini and the WFP and on new areas of cooperation to support food security.
The meeting addressed Eswatini’s goal of attaining food sovereignty. The Prime Minister requested WFP support in the establishment of the country’s grain reserves. He also sought WFP assistance in developing a concept to strengthen the national school feeding programme.
The Prime Minister said the proposed grain reserves are intended to improve national food security and buffer the country against climate and market shocks. On the school feeding programme, he asked the WFP to support the development of a new concept aimed at improving efficiency, nutrition outcomes and local procurement.
The Prime Minister stated that strengthening these two areas is central to Government’s plan to reduce reliance on food imports and build long-term resilience.
The country’s El Niño response plan was also discussed. The Prime Minister outlined the anticipated role of the WFP in supporting implementation of the plan.
He urged the WFP to work closely with Government in delivering high-impact projects. He further requested that the organization utilize locally available capacity in food distribution programmes in order to create employment opportunities for emaSwati.
Dlamini also encouraged the WFP to consider training emaSwati in the implementation of a Cash Transfer Programme. He said the training should be done in anticipation of potential need should El Niño conditions affect the country and increase household food insecurity.
Kaye reaffirmed the WFP’s commitment to supporting Eswatini’s national vision of attaining food sovereignty. He expressed confidence in the country’s capacity to make progress in this area and described the potential for Eswatini to become a model in food security.
Eswatini and the WFP maintain an existing partnership covering nutrition, school feeding and emergency preparedness. The national school feeding programme, supported with WFP assistance, provides meals to learners across the country and is used as a social protection instrument.
Government has prioritized building buffer stocks and improving early warning systems as part of its food security strategy. The proposal for grain reserves forms part of that strategy. The concept for the school feeding programme is expected to address local procurement, menu diversity and school-level infrastructure.
The meeting concluded with agreement to expedite cooperation on priority projects. Government said it will continue to coordinate with the WFP and other development partners to ensure preparedness ahead of the next agricultural season. 
