According to the Bank’s website, the proposed operation is an allocation of UA 654,174 of the Middle-Income Countries Technical Assistance Fund to the Kingdom of Eswatini to support activities that will facilitate the development of the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Program (MNWAP) holistic approach development (HAD). This project, aimed at developing a holistic development master plan for the MkhondvoNgwavuma Water Augmentation Program (MNWAP) through integrating sectoral plans aligned to the National Development Plan (NPD) (2023 to 2028), which aspired to make Eswatini among the top 10% of the medium human development group of countries founded on sustainable economic development, social justice and political stability. One of the strategies to achieve this was through an eco-friendly, green growth and circular economy approach. To attain this goal, a coordinated and holistic development approach is required. The Project activities will be undertaken through seven (7) components: i) SocioEconomic Development including a Centre of Excellence, ii) Cross Border Activities, iii) Energy development, iv) Transportation schemes, v) MNWAP Holistic Development Master Plan Investment Plan, vi) Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, and vii) Implementation and Management. The activities will be implemented within the Shiselweni Region to address the region’s high poverty and unemployment rates, especially amongst the youth (boys and girls). Gender will be a cross-cutting issue, as a key development issue, aiming for equitable and full participation of women and men. It is planned to be implemented for a period of 12 calendar months from the date of approval.

The objective of the Project is to develop a Holistic Approach Development Master Plan for the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Program (MNWAP-HAD). MNWAP Holistic Approach Development (MNWAP-HAD) Master Plan will outline the sectoral plans (sub-plans) for transportation, health, education, energy, tourism, housing and human settlement, etc. that are necessary to transform the MNWAP Program Area to be an economic powerhouse of the Shiselweni and the country and push the country towards attaining its developed country status. The MNWAP-HAD Master Plan will outline the policy, institutional and organisational frameworks necessary for the realization of the program objectives. The private sector is seen as the major economic driver for MNWAP-HAD. Therefore, the MNWAP-HAD Master Plan will elaborate on the investment framework and plan which the private sector can detail further. The MNWAP-HAD Master Plan will comprise four components as follows: (i) Socio-Economic Development ; (ii) Integrated Sectoral Development Plans and MNWAP-HAD Investment and Financing Plan ; (iii) Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, and (iv) Implementation and Management.

Environmental Category: [1] High Risk

According to the Appraisal Report, the proposed operation is assigned Category 1 as per the Bank’s Integrated Safeguards System. The categorization was validated on 17th March 2025, This categorization is based on the fact that the operation is aimed at supporting and complimenting the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Program Phase 1 – (MNWAP 1) and Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Program Phase 2 – (MNWAP 2) projects, which are both Category 1. The Project itself is anticipated to pose low environmental and social risks and impacts resulting from the implementation of the planned activities in the seven components.

Finance Type: Standard grant
Commitments (UA): 654,174
Conversion Rate USD (2025-06-29): 1,32923

MIC-TAF: UA 654,174
Government of Eswatini: UA 60,000
Total Cost: UA 714,174

Name: Wael Mohamed Roshdy SOLIMAN
Email: w.soliman@afdb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/request-for-documents. Under the AfDBÕs Disclosure and Access to Information policy, if you feel the Bank has omitted to publish information or your request for information is unreasonably denied, you can file an appeal at https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/appeals-process.

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at: https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/