Eswatini validates M&E Policy
By Delisa Magagula
The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) successfully concluded a two-day validation workshop for the country’s National Evaluation Policy and the National Development Plan (NDP) Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) Framework.
This achievement is a firm declaration of the nation’s commitment to making decisions based on solid evidence and ensuring governance is focused on tangible results.
?The workshop, which was warmly opened and blessed by Under Secretary Siboniso Masilela, representing Principal Secretary Thabsile Mlangeni, highlighted the government’s unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
The acting Principal Secretary extended his sincere welcome and thanked the attendees for their commitment to the process, underscoring the collective importance of the initiative.
?The journey to developing the ME Policy was a comprehensive, collaborative effort. It brought together experts from various government ministries, with essential support and partnership from UNICEF Eswatini and CLEAR-AA.
Through a series of focused capacity development workshops, co-creation sessions, and an in-depth review of key government documents, the policy was carefully tailored to meet Eswatini’s specific needs and future aspirations.
?This cooperative approach ensured that the final policy was not an isolated document, but a framework built on broad ownership and shared understanding across the government.
??The ME Policy is designed to be clear, direct, and empowering. It provides a clear outline of what is required to achieve the government’s national goals and objectives, without being overly prescriptive about how each entity must execute those requirements.
This strategic flexibility is key. It enables all Ministries, Departments, and Parastatals (MDPs) to work together seamlessly, fostering a unified effort that drives progress and economic growth while respecting each entity’s operational autonomy.
?By prioritizing quality assurance, clear communication, and, most importantly, the active use of evaluation findings, the government is establishing a mechanism to ensure its decisions are consistently informed, effective, and truly responsive to the needs of the Eswatini people.
?The second and final day of the validation workshop sustained an atmosphere of focused collaboration and anticipation.
Building on the momentum from the initial sessions, participants engaged in fruitful and in-depth discussions focused on refining and solidifying the framework.
?Under the expert guidance of Consultant Nokwazi Mathebula, key stakeholders meticulously revisited the objectives of the ME Policy.
This crucial review ensured that the policy remained fully aligned with the long-term aspirations and immediate needs of the nation.
Participants actively shared their insights and provided essential feedback, repeatedly highlighting the importance of creating a policy that not only sets clear expectations but also genuinely empowers all ministries to collaborate effectively.
?The day’s discussions strongly reaffirmed the significance of transparency and accountability within governance.
By establishing robust quality assurance measures and embedding the systematic use of evaluation findings, the ME Policy aims to cultivate an environment where informed and evidence-based decisions can flourish, ultimately leading to tangible benefits for the citizens of Eswatini.
?The successful validation of the M&E Policy and NDP ME Framework marks a major turning point toward a brighter, more sustainably managed future for Eswatini.
With this strong foundational framework now in place, the government is well-positioned to systematically track progress against national goals, accurately identify areas that require improvement, and make robust, informed decisions that will benefit the entire nation.
?As the workshop concluded, participants expressed their deep gratitude for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to such a significant national initiative.
The validation is a powerful testament to the collective efforts of everyone involved, the collaborative government bodies, the supporting international partners, and the dedicated experts and serves as a clear indication of Eswatini’s deep-seated dedication to good governance and rigorous accountability.
?Eswatini is now better equipped than ever to not just monitor but also to actively improve performance, identify and close gaps, and implement strategies that truly resonate with the needs of its people.
This collective achievement reinforces the government’s commitment to results-driven public service.
Worth mentioning is that The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Eswatini developed a country programme document for the 2016-2020 period,
established around objectives that were in line with the National Development Strategy 2013-2022, the King’s Vision 2022 and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework outcomes. UNDP’s programme.
Eswatini planned to contribute to the following three outcomes.
Inclusive economic growth and sustainable development
Resilience and risk reduction, incorporating sustainable natural resource management and good governance, equity and citizen participation.
The UNDP country programme document for Eswatini identified priorities for UNDP’s interventions that were highly relevant to the country’s development challenges.
Although activities implemented by UNDP have too often deviated from its set objectives and planned outputs.
New projects and activities offer opportunities to diversify and attract new funding in areas such as youth, innovation and energy efficiency, but also increase the risk of moving away from UNDP’s programme objectives.
