Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini has taken a bold step in reshaping Africa’s response to one of its greatest silent threats, drought. On September 17, 2025, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini officially launched three groundbreaking initiatives: the SADC Disaster Risk Reduction Platform, the Eswatini National Platform on DRR, and the Eswatini Drought Centre of Excellence.
The launches mark a historic turning point, positioning Eswatini as a regional leader in resilience-building, innovation, and collaboration against climate-induced disasters.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Recalling the devastating 2015–2016 El Niño drought that left nearly half of Eswatini’s population in need of humanitarian aid, the PM described the moment as a painful but powerful lesson. That crisis drained E3.84 billion, about 19% of the national budget and 7% of GDP, showing that reactive responses were too costly in both lives and resources.
“From that experience, we realised that the time for decisive, forward-looking action had come,” he said.
Building Resilience Through Innovation
At the centre of Eswatini’s strategy is the newly inaugurated Drought Centre of Excellence, a hub designed to harness science, technology, and indigenous knowledge. From advanced climate modelling and early warning systems to research-driven policy briefs, the centre will ensure that decisions in boardrooms are grounded in the realities of communities.
The Centre is expected to serve not just Eswatini, but the entire African continent, offering solutions that combine traditional wisdom with cutting-edge science.
A United Regional Response
The Premier emphasised that drought is not an isolated challenge but a regional crisis requiring collective solutions. Through the SADC Regional and National Platforms, governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector will now coordinate their efforts in information sharing, risk assessment, and innovation for disaster management.
“This is a future where regional solidarity is not just a principle but a lived reality,” Dlamini declared. “A future where no country stands alone in the face of adversity.”
From Reaction to Prevention
Eswatini’s efforts align with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Locally, they are anchored in the Nkwe Programme of Action (2024–2029), which prioritises food sovereignty and sustainable development.
The World Bank, a key partner, was commended for shifting the nation’s mindset from viewing drought as a disaster-response issue to recognising it as a development and resilience-building agenda.
Ezulwini’s Defining Legacy
Closing his remarks, Dlamini called on delegates to act decisively:
“Let it be said that in Ezulwini, the Valley of Heaven, we chose to strengthen our resolve, reinforce our partnerships, and replace isolation with collaboration, complacency with innovation, and vulnerability with resilience.”
With the launch of the Drought Centre of Excellence and the DRR platforms, Eswatini has not only deepened its roots against climate shocks but has also offered the region a blueprint for thriving in the face of adversity.
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