Eswatini

The Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is a landlocked, middle-income country in Southern Africa. It has a population of 1.2 million people. 

Poverty in Eswatini is predominantly rural, with seven in ten rural people living below the national poverty line. Low agricultural productivity, isolation from markets, lack of access to information, limited off-farm employment opportunities and high rates of HIV/AIDS reinforce the cycle of poverty.

Frequent droughts, overgrazing and flooding have resulted in decreased food production. About 56 per cent of the population are chronically food insecure and depend on food assistance.

To tackle these challenges, the government is focusing on attracting private sector investment and linkages with smallholder producers in value chains.

IFAD works to reduce rural poverty and improve sustainable food systems through inclusive and resilient agricultural commercialization and complementary income opportunities.

Interventions target women, youth, persons living with HIV, persons with disabilities and households with a low asset base.

• Eswatini’s per capita GDP is US$3,823.
• 29 per cent of people are categorised as extremely poor.
• Around one in four children under five are stunted.