NARRATE USING UNITED NATIONS TONE, FLUENCY, AND STYLE OF WRITING HOW THE UNITED NATIONS ESWATINI WILL ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES OF THE COOPERATION FRAMEWORK Introduction
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) serves as a critical blueprint guiding the UN’s work in Eswatini in partnership with the government and other stakeholders. It outlines key development priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Eswatini’s national aspirations. Ensuring the sustainability of this framework means embedding its goals, processes, and outcomes into the country’s systems so that progress continues long after the framework period ends. Sustainability is about making development lasting, owned by all stakeholders, and resilient to challenges.

1. Alignment with National Priorities and Policies
A key foundation for sustainability is ensuring that the UNSDCF closely reflects Eswatini’s national development agenda. This includes harmonizing the framework with Eswatini’s Vision 2022 and the longer-term development roadmap towards 2030, as well as sectoral strategies in areas such as health, education, gender equality, economic growth, and environment.

By integrating the UNSDCF with these national plans:

The government perceives the framework as a tool that supports rather than supplants their efforts.
It facilitates government leadership, ensuring national policies are adapted and implemented with UN support.
It reduces duplication of efforts and optimizes resources.
Moreover, the UN in Eswatini can facilitate policy coherence by supporting reforms and advising on policies that enhance sustainable development. For instance, promoting gender-responsive budgeting or climate-smart policies can help institutionalize sustainable development principles.

2. Strengthening National and Local Capacity
For sustainability, it is crucial to empower local actors. Many development gains falter when external technical or financial support ends because institutions and communities lack the necessary capacities.

The UN can help by:

Training government officials in areas like data management, project design, implementation, and evaluation.
Strengthening local governance structures so they can manage resources and projects effectively.
Building civil society and community organizational capacities so these groups can hold institutions accountable and participate actively in development.
Developing strong national statistical and monitoring frameworks that enable real-time tracking of SDG progress. This allows for adjustments and course corrections driven by evidence.
This capacity enhancement creates a virtuous cycle: stronger institutions deliver better services, gain citizen trust, and reinforce their own sustainability.

3. Fostering Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Sustainability depends on including a wide range of actors beyond the government and UN agencies. The UN in Eswatini must promote a platform where civil society, private sector, academia, traditional leaders, and even youth organizations are actively engaged.

Government leadership and coordination is essential. The UN can support the establishment or strengthening of national SDG steering committees or similar bodies that bring stakeholders together regularly to coordinate efforts.
The private sector plays a critical role — through investment, innovation, and job creation. The UN can facilitate platforms for dialogue and partnerships, and encourage corporate social responsibility aligned with SDGs.
Civil society and communities provide crucial local knowledge and implementation capacity. Their involvement ensures that development is inclusive and grounded in local realities.
At the regional and international levels, the UN can leverage partnerships with entities like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), regional development banks, and bilateral donors to mobilize resources and expertise.
By creating integrated networks of stakeholders, UNSDCF interventions become embedded in the wider socio-political landscape and are less vulnerable to disruptions.

4. Sustainable Financing Mechanisms
One of the most significant risks to sustained development efforts is financial uncertainty once donor projects conclude. To address this, the UN in Eswatini can advocate for and assist in developing:

Innovative financing solutions such as blended finance models that combine public funds, private investments, and donor contributions.
Mechanisms like results-based financing, which link funding to verified achievements, encouraging efficiency and accountability.
National resource mobilization strategies that prioritize budget allocations for SDG-linked programs, thereby ensuring government ownership and control over resources.
Support for financial inclusion initiatives that empower local economies and small enterprises.
This stable and diversified financing base creates the fiscal space for critical social services and development programs to continue and expand.

5. Promoting Inclusivity and Gender Equality
Development gains are only sustainable if they benefit all segments of society. The UN’s long-standing commitment to the principle of “leaving no one behind” must be front and center in Eswatini’s UNSDCF sustainability approach.

Ensuring the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities in decision-making processes leads to more equitable policies and interventions.
Gender equality initiatives that address economic empowerment, access to education, healthcare, and protection from gender-based violence help break intergenerational cycles of poverty.
The UN can support sensitization campaigns and gender-responsive planning tools that integrate inclusivity into government programs and budgets.
By fostering social cohesion and addressing structural inequalities, the framework’s positive impacts are more likely to persist.

6. Environmental Sustainability
Eswatini faces environmental challenges such as climate change impacts, land degradation, and water scarcity that threaten development gains.

The UN can promote sustainability by:

Integrating climate resilience into sectoral strategies so that health, agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure are planned with environmental risks in mind.