NATIONAL prosperity cannot be achieved without prioritising the wellbeing of children.
This was shared during the launch of the World Vision five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the lives of nearly 400 000 vulnerable children in Eswatini.
Speaking on behalf of Regional Leader Matthew Pickard was the Senior Director of Innovation and Continuous Improvement Bagezile Dube.
He said the pathway to national development ran directly through children, stressing that sustainable progress depended on investing in their safety, health, and overall wellbeing.
Pickard explained that when children thrived, households became stronger, communities more resilient and ultimately the nation prospers.
He emphasised that development efforts cannot bypass children, as they are central to any meaningful and lasting national advancement.
He described the strategy as more than a policy document, but rather a national call to action urging the country to place children at the centre of its vision, policies and investments.
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He noted that the theme, ‘Eswatini That Cares, Children Who Thrive,’ reflects a shared aspiration among parents, educators, community leaders and development partners.
According to the regional leader, the launch comes at a critical time when the country and the broader Southern African region were grappling with economic shocks, climate-induced food insecurity, rising child vulnerability, preventable diseases, violence and persistent poverty.
Despite these challenges, he commended the country for its resilience and longstanding commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.
He noted that over the past 34 years, World Vision had worked alongside government to support communities, describing the partnership as both strategic and transformative.
He further highlighted that the new strategy aligned closely with national priorities and commits to addressing key issues affecting children, including ending preventable violence, tackling hunger and malnutrition as well as expanding access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Pickard pointed to recent milestones as evidence of progress, including the commissioning of a water scheme and the launch of a WASH Business Plan in Gege, undertaken in collaboration with government.
He said such initiatives demonstrated what could be achieved through strong partnerships.
He also praised the leadership of government, noting that Eswatini was increasingly positioning itself as a regional model, particularly in the water and sanitation sector where co-investment between government and non-governmental organisations is yielding tangible results.
Pickard said the strategy formed part of World Vision’s global framework, ‘Our Promise Phase 3’ and represented a broader regional and international commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children.
He assured stakeholders that World Vision would continue to support the country with technical expertise, accountability and sustained partnership to ensure the successful implementation of the strategy.
Additional Context
Child-focused development strategies are globally recognised as foundational to long-term economic growth, as investments in health, education, and protection directly influence productivity and social stability.
