AGP Executive Report

Clean Energy: Eswatini backed a COP31 pledge to raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35% by 2035, though the voluntary commitment does not specify whether power must be clean. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini says the country aims to connect every household by 2030; smart meters could also let eligible customers sell surplus renewable power to the grid. Waste and Methane: Government is targeting composting 30% of organic waste and cutting open burning of municipal waste by 30% by 2035. The gap is stark: about 84% of characterised waste is organic, but only around 1% of municipal waste is composted. Women Farmers: Eswatini’s Sonia Paiva is taking women farmers’ perspectives to COP31, highlighting climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land management and opportunities for rural businesses. Community Land: Eswatini told an African gathering that investors must obtain community consent before accessing customary land, putting local participation at the centre of sustainable development.

Circular Economy: At COP31, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said Eswatini aims to compost 30% of organic waste and cut open burning of municipal waste by 30% by 2035. About 84% of surveyed waste is organic, but only 1% is composted. Clean Energy Access: Eswatini is targeting electricity access for every household by 2030, using grid expansion and off-grid solar; a project aims to add 50,000 connections and reach about 200,000 people. Climate Voices: Eswatini’s first child representative at a climate summit is taking children’s concerns on food security, school meals and health to COP31. Woman Farmer Foundation head Sonia Paiva is also sharing how women-led businesses can support land restoration and climate-resilient agriculture. Community Land Rights: Eswatini told an African gathering that investors must obtain community consent before accessing customary land, and that development should benefit the people who live on it.

COP31: UN chief António Guterres urged leaders to phase out fossil fuels, warning that the industry’s lobbying stands in the way of climate action. Eswatini is among the countries represented at the summit in Türkiye. Women Farmers: Eswatini’s Sonia Paiva is taking women farmers’ perspectives to a COP31 panel on restoring land, creating jobs and building green businesses. Children’s Voices: For the first time, Eswatini has sent a child representative to the climate summit. Hlelolwenkhosi Nsibandze plans to raise concerns including food security, school meals and health. Food Security: Local food prices were mostly steady in October, but high fertiliser and fuel costs, alongside possible adverse weather, threaten production and affordability in the coming season. Regional Resilience: SADC health ministers are weighing how the anticipated El Niño could affect food supplies, water and climate-sensitive diseases, and how to protect vulnerable communities.

Eswatini at COP31: Woman Farmer Foundation director Sonia Paiva is taking women farmers’ priorities to climate talks in Türkiye, while child representative Hlelolwenkhosi Nsibandze is raising concerns about food security, school meals, health and education. Food and Climate Resilience: Eswatini’s food prices were mostly steady in October, but high fertiliser and fuel costs, regional supply pressures and adverse weather could make food less affordable. Seeds and Biodiversity: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources, supporting crop diversity, food security and resilience to climate change.

COP31: Eswatini’s women farmers’ voices are being represented in Antalya by Woman Farmer Foundation director Sonia Paiva, while the country’s first child climate representative, Hlelolwenkhosi Nsibandze, is set to raise concerns including food security, school meals and children’s futures. Food Security: Eswatini’s Competition Commission says high fertiliser and fuel costs, along with possible adverse weather, could push up food production costs ahead of the next planting season. Conservation: SADC has safeguarded about 82,000 plant genetic resources to support food security, biodiversity and climate resilience. Wildlife: South Africa’s first national crane census in 20 years counted nearly 19,000 birds, offering conservation groups updated population and distribution data.

COP31 Voices: Eswatini farmer advocate Sonia Paiva is joining a summit panel on women-led, climate-resilient farming, while child representative Hlelolwenkhosi Nsibandze is carrying young people’s concerns about food security, school meals and health to the talks in Türkiye. Climate and Health: SADC health ministers are discussing how climate change and a possible El Niño could affect food, water and disease risks, alongside regional emergency preparedness. Food Security: Eswatini’s food prices changed little in October, but high fertiliser and fuel costs, supply constraints and adverse weather could push up production costs ahead of planting season. Crop Resilience: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect agricultural biodiversity, strengthen food security and help crops withstand climate pressures.

COP31 Voices: Eswatini women farmers’ concerns will reach the climate summit in Türkiye through Woman Farmer Foundation director Sonia Paiva, a panellist on women-led green businesses. The country has also sent its first child representative, Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze, to raise issues including food security, school meals and children’s health. Climate and Health: SADC health ministers are discussing how climate change and a possible 2026–27 El Niño could affect food security, water supplies, nutrition and climate-sensitive diseases across the region. Food and Farming: Eswatini food prices were mostly steady in October, but high fertiliser and fuel costs, regional supply pressures and adverse weather could raise production costs ahead of the next planting season. Crop Resilience: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to support biodiversity, food security and crops better able to withstand climate pressures.

Food Security: Eswatini’s food prices changed little in October, but high fertiliser and fuel costs, supply constraints and possible adverse weather could push up production costs ahead of the planting season. Climate Voices: Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze will become Eswatini’s first child representative at a climate COP, taking concerns including food security, school meals and health to COP31. Drought Stress: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni amid El Niño-related shortages of grazing and water; farmers were urged to sell livestock. Biodiversity and Resilience: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect agricultural biodiversity, strengthen food security and help crops withstand climate pressures. Maritime Oversight: The US says a sanctioned network used Eswatini’s name in unauthorised ship registrations for tankers carrying Iranian oil, raising concerns about fraudulent flags and the safety and environmental rules they can evade.

Maritime Oversight: The US says a Singapore-based company used Eswatini’s name to falsely register tankers carrying Iranian oil. The company was not authorised by Eswatini, which is developing its own ship registry to prevent misuse of the national flag and strengthen oversight of shipping risks. Climate Voices: Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze will become Eswatini’s first child representative at a UN climate summit, bringing concerns about food security, school meals, health and education to COP31. Drought Pressure: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as drought dries up grazing and water supplies, threatening farmers’ livelihoods and food security. Farmers have been urged to sell livestock. Seeds and Resilience: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to support crop diversity, food security and resilience to climate change.

Maritime and Environment: The US says an unauthorised registry used Eswatini’s name to register tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian oil. The case raises concerns about ships evading safety and environmental oversight as Eswatini moves to establish its own maritime authority. Climate Voice: Eswatini will send its first child representative to the UN climate summit. Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze plans to raise children’s concerns, including food security, school meals and health. Drought Pressure: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as drought dries up grazing and water supplies. Farmers have been urged to sell livestock to limit further losses. Seed Conservation: SADC reports conserving about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect agricultural biodiversity, strengthen food security and help crops withstand climate change.

Climate Voice: Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze will become Eswatini’s first child representative at a UN climate summit, taking children’s concerns about food security, school meals, health and education to COP31 in Türkiye. Drought Pressure: More than 50 cattle have died in drought-hit Shiselweni, where shortages of pasture and water are hurting livestock and livelihoods. Farmers have been urged to sell animals before conditions worsen. Maritime Safeguards: US sanctions targeted a network accused of using fake ship registries, including one claiming Eswatini’s name, to help Iranian oil tankers evade restrictions. False flags can let vessels avoid environmental safety rules and leave countries exposed to costly damage. Seed Resilience: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect agricultural biodiversity, support food security and strengthen resilience to climate change.

Climate Voice: Eswatini will send its first child representative to COP31 in Türkiye. Hlelolwenkhosi Malwande Nsibandze plans to raise children’s concerns, including food security, school meals and health. Drought Pressure: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as El Niño-related shortages of pasture and water hit farmers, prompting calls to sell livestock. Seeds and Resilience: SADC reports conserving about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect biodiversity, strengthen food security and help farming withstand climate change. African agricultural stakeholders will also meet in Dar es Salaam to discuss stronger seed systems and access to quality planting materials. Commonwealth Climate Action: Leaders at CHOGM discussed climate resilience as part of wider efforts to build a more prosperous Commonwealth.

Maritime Safeguards: US sanctions target a network accused of using fake ship registries, including an unauthorised Eswatini-branded registry, to help Iranian oil tankers evade oversight. Such false flags can bypass safety and environmental rules, raising the risk of costly pollution damage. Drought and Livestock: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as El Niño-related drought brings severe shortages of grazing and water. Farmers are being urged to sell livestock before conditions worsen. Seeds and Biodiversity: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources to protect agricultural biodiversity, support improved crops and strengthen food security and climate resilience. African agricultural stakeholders will meet in Dar es Salaam next week to discuss stronger seed systems.

Seed Resilience: African officials and agricultural stakeholders will meet in Dar es Salaam on November 10–13 to strengthen seed systems, improve access to quality planting materials and build climate resilience. Plant Conservation: SADC says it has conserved about 82,000 plant genetic resources, supporting biodiversity, food security and the development of resilient crops. Drought Emergency: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as El Niño-related drought leaves farmers short of grazing and water. Maritime Safeguards: A US sanctions action exposed a network accused of issuing fake ship registrations, including through an unauthorised Eswatini-linked registry. False flags can help vessels evade environmental and safety rules.

False Ship Registries: The US Treasury sanctioned an India-based network accused of using fake maritime documents to help tankers carrying Iranian oil evade oversight. The network impersonated Eswatini’s registry, and falsely flagged ships can bypass environmental safeguards and leave coastal states exposed to costly damage. Drought Pressure: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as El Niño-driven shortages of water and grazing pasture hit farmers. Officials urged farmers to sell livestock before conditions worsen. Unsafe Public Housing: Nearly half of police residences have been declared unfit for people, according to the police service. Planned repairs include removing bat waste from ceilings at several facilities.

Drought Emergency: More than 50 cattle have died in Shiselweni as El Niño-related drought dries up grazing and water. Farmers are being urged to sell livestock before conditions worsen, with losses reported in Hluti and Lavumisa. Farm Markets: EWADE and AeTrade Group have partnered to connect smallholder farmers with wider markets and improve access to trade and investment. Maritime Safeguards: US sanctions target a network accused of using fake flags and certificates to help Iranian oil tankers evade restrictions. The network reportedly impersonated Eswatini’s ship registry, which had disavowed the operation; false documentation can also undermine rules meant to protect crews and the environment. Climate Finance: CANGO warns that taking on more debt ahead of a possible El Niño drought could leave government with less room to fund relief and support affected communities. Climate Talks: Commonwealth leaders discussed climate resilience at their Antigua summit, while COP31 is scheduled for Türkiye from November 9 to 20.