AGP Executive Report

Water Security & Climate Prep: Eswatini’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy says it’s accelerating water infrastructure upgrades, including raising Hawane Dam height, to protect potable supply if El Niño reduces rainfall; the ministry also flagged a review of the Water Act (2003) and work with the World Bank to strengthen the sector. Tourism Under Pressure: Reports that Eswatini accepted additional U.S. third-country deportees have triggered human-rights concerns and could dent the kingdom’s tourism brand and visitor confidence. Wildlife & Biodiversity: Conservation groups are planning a major national crane count in South Africa later this month, using a modern citizen-sighting system to update distribution and guide future protection for the Blue, Wattled and Grey Crowned cranes. Events Compliance: EEMPA has urged Kota Festival organisers to complete legal and regulatory requirements and register properly before the October 24 event at Malkerns Country Club. Health System Spotlight: The Global Fund praised Eswatini for progress against HIV, TB and malaria, citing strong leadership, partnerships, domestic financing and early rollout of Lenacapavir. Construction & Tax Accountability: ERS awards highlighted Stefanutti Stocks and Eswatini Beverages as top tax-compliant firms, even as the Central Bank headquarters project remains tied up in court. Economy & Jobs Angle: A week of coverage also points to wider economic strain—loan impairments rising at EswatiniBank and ongoing youth unemployment concerns—showing how environment-linked shocks can ripple into livelihoods.

Water Security Planning: Eswatini’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy says it’s accelerating water infrastructure upgrades, including raising Hawane Dam capacity, to protect potable supply if El Niño reduces rainfall; the ministry also flagged a review of the Water Act (2003) with World Bank support. Climate Disaster Reality Check: A continent-wide look at recent floods highlights how repeated heavy rains across Southern and parts of East and West Africa have killed people and displaced hundreds of thousands—underscoring weak planning and rising climate pressure. Wildlife & Public Health: New research stresses that snakes are vital to ecosystems and agriculture, and that better public attitudes can support a “One Health” approach to reducing snakebite harm. Conservation Data Call: South Africa’s crane census (24–27 July) is inviting public sightings via WhatsApp to update distribution and guide conservation for Blue, Wattled and Grey Crowned cranes. Local Health Gains: The Global Fund praised Eswatini as a model for progress against HIV, TB and malaria, including early rollout of Lenacapavir and stronger domestic health financing. Youth Skills Push: Inyatsi Group (via EswatiniMobile) is funding a three-month paid internship for 10 UNESWA students to bridge classroom learning and workplace readiness. Tax Compliance Spotlight: Eswatini Beverages won top honours as the most tax-compliant taxpayer at ERS awards, while Stefanutti Stocks was also recognised—amid ongoing court attention around the Central Bank headquarters project.

Central Bank Project Court Fight: Stefanutti Stocks was named Eswatini’s most tax-compliant large construction company at ERS awards, even as its role in the controversial E2.79bn Central Bank (CBE) headquarters project remains under High Court challenge by the Eswatini Consumer Forum. Tax Compliance Spotlight: Eswatini Beverages also won top honours as the overall highest compliant taxpayer at the same ERS Client Appreciation Awards. Water Security & Climate Risk: Government says it’s accelerating water infrastructure plans, including raising Hawane Dam capacity, to protect potable supply if El Niño reduces rainfall; it also plans to review the Water Act of 2003 with World Bank support. Floods & Planning Failures: A wider Southern Africa-focused report links recent Africa floods to climate change and poor planning, highlighting how repeated storms are overwhelming communities and systems. Wildlife & Biodiversity: Conservation groups are pushing for a major national crane census in South Africa using citizen reporting, aiming to update distribution and guide future protection. Cheetah Conservation: A new five-year partnership will expand science-based cheetah conservation and translocations across Southern Africa, including support for Eswatini’s reintroduction work.

Water Security Watch: Eswatini’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy says it’s accelerating water plans ahead of possible El Niño dryness, including reviewing the 2003 Water Act and raising Hawane Dam capacity to protect potable supply for schools and hospitals. Climate & Disaster Context: A continent-wide look at recent floods links repeated disasters to climate change and weak planning, with Southern Africa hit hard and new storms moving across regions. Wildlife & Biodiversity: Conservation groups are pushing for a South Africa National Crane Census (24–27 July), using public “citizen science” sightings to track crane numbers and breeding areas—good news for regional bird conservation. Health & Environment Link: The Global Fund praises Eswatini’s progress against HIV, TB and malaria, highlighting sustained domestic financing and readiness to adopt new tools like Lenacapavir. Youth & Skills: UNESWA students get a three-month, fully paid internship programme via EswatiniMobile/Inyatsi Group, aimed at building a skilled workforce for sustainable development. Business Compliance: Eswatini Beverages wins top tax-compliance honours at ERS Client Appreciation Awards, reinforcing responsible corporate citizenship.

Wildlife & public health: New research highlights how snakes protect ecosystems and support agriculture, while also stressing that snakebite remains a neglected emergency—an issue that matters as climate change and development push people into more encounters. Water security: Eswatini’s Natural Resources and Energy Ministry says it’s accelerating water planning, including raising Hawane Dam capacity, reviewing the Water Act, and preparing for possible El Niño dryness to protect schools and hospitals. Climate disasters: A continent-wide look at floods shows how repeated rainy seasons are turning into recurring disasters across Southern and parts of West Africa—killing people, displacing families, and exposing weak planning. Conservation: Eswatini-linked conservation news includes cheetah reintroductions and cross-border translocations, with a new science-based partnership set to expand wildlife and biodiversity work across Southern Africa. Community & youth: UNESWA students get fully paid internships through EswatiniMobile/Inyatsi Group, aiming to tackle youth unemployment by bridging classroom learning and workplace readiness. Gender safety in education: Eswatini is intensifying efforts to curb sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education, citing high rates of sexual violence among young women and students.

Water Security: Eswatini’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy says it’s accelerating water infrastructure plans, including raising Hawane Dam capacity, to protect potable supply if El Niño reduces rainfall, with a review of the 2003 Water Act and support from the World Bank. Climate & Flood Risk: A continent-wide look at this rainy season warns that floods keep hitting hard across Southern and parts of East and West Africa, with heavy loss of life and displacement tied to both climate extremes and weak planning. Wildlife & Biodiversity: The Origins Foundation and The Metapopulation Initiative announce a five-year science-based partnership to expand cheetah conservation, including veterinary support and large-scale translocations—Eswatini is highlighted for a successful cheetah reintroduction after decades. Conservation Data Call: Conservation groups urge public help for South Africa’s National Crane Census (24–27 July), using a WhatsApp reporting system to map crane populations and guide future protection. Health (TB): A SADC TB progress report says incidence has fallen but progress is plateauing, with funding cuts and regional crises putting 2030 elimination targets at risk. Gender & Safety in Learning: Eswatini steps up efforts against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education under the Litsemba Rising initiative, citing high rates of sexual violence among young women and students.

Climate & Flood Risk: A continent-wide rainy season is turning deadly again, with floods affecting millions across Southern Africa and beyond, highlighting how climate change plus weak planning are repeatedly overwhelming communities, including in Eswatini. Water Security: Eswatini is accelerating water infrastructure upgrades, including plans to raise Hawane Dam capacity, as officials prepare for possible El Niño dry spells and review the Water Act to keep schools and hospitals supplied. Wildlife & Biodiversity: Conservation groups are backing a major Southern Africa cheetah push, including Eswatini’s first successful cheetah reintroduction in decades, and a wider translocation and restoration plan. Health & TB Funding: A SADC TB report warns progress is plateauing and 2030 elimination targets are at risk due to funding cuts and regional crises, even as incidence has fallen since 2016. Conservation Data Call: South Africans are being urged to join a national crane census using a WhatsApp sightings system to update population and breeding-area maps. Gender & Safety in Learning: Eswatini is intensifying efforts to curb sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education, with new findings shared under the Litsemba Rising initiative. Local Environment-Linked Finance: EswatiniBank reports loan impairments rising sharply, citing climate-related shocks affecting agriculture and weather impacts on parts of the economy.

Cybercrime Crackdown: INTERPOL’s “First Light 2026” anti-fraud operation across 97 territories led to 5,811 arrests and $293m in seized illicit assets, with Eswatini authorities arresting 82 people and dismantling an illegal online gambling and impersonation network. Gender Justice in Campuses: Eswatini is pushing harder to curb sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education under the Litsemba Rising initiative, citing high risks for young women and students. Health System Wins: The Global Fund praised Eswatini for progress against HIV, TB and malaria, highlighting strong leadership, partnerships and domestic financing, including early rollout of Lenacapavir. Wildlife & Biodiversity: A new five-year cheetah conservation partnership will expand science-based translocations and ecosystem work across Southern Africa, including support for Eswatini’s cheetah reintroduction efforts. Trade & Regional Links: Eswatini’s commerce minister met Taiwan’s foreign affairs leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation, including the Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park project. Investment Push: Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority roadshows ahead of the Eswatini Investment Conference (July 29–31) to attract regional and international investors.

Health & TB: Eswatini was praised by the Global Fund in Geneva for strengthening its health system and making progress against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, with recognition for domestic financing and early rollout of Lenacapavir. Gender-based violence in education: A national dialogue under the Litsemba Rising initiative highlighted that one in four women aged 19–24 in Eswatini has experienced sexual violence, and that higher-education students face much higher risk of sexual assault—pushing for safer campuses and stronger prevention. Youth & skills: Inyatsi Group’s EswatiniMobile-funded internship programme is giving 10 UNESWA students a three-month, fully paid placement to bridge classroom learning and workplace readiness. Finance & climate pressures: EswatiniBank reported a sharp rise in loan impairments to E45.6m, linking higher bad debt to job losses, supplier payment delays, and climate-related shocks hitting agriculture and SMEs. Regional wildlife & conservation: A new five-year partnership will expand science-based cheetah conservation and biodiversity work across Southern Africa, including Eswatini’s cheetah reintroduction efforts. Regional investment push: Eswatini is ramping up regional partnerships ahead of the second Eswatini Investment Conference (July 29–31), aiming to attract investors and turn shared plans into real projects.

Gender & Safety in Education: Eswatini is stepping up safeguards against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education, after research found one in four women aged 19–24 reported sexual violence and students in higher education are far more likely to face assault than non-students, with a Dialogue on Violence Prevention in Higher Education held under the Litsemba Rising initiative. Regional Trade & Investment: Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships to attract quality investment ahead of its second Investment Conference (EIC 2026, July 29–31), with the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority urging early alignment with investors and financiers. Conservation & Wildlife: A new five-year cheetah conservation partnership will expand science-based wildlife translocations and biodiversity work across Southern Africa, including support for the first successful cheetah reintroduction into the Kingdom of Eswatini after decades of local extinction. Culture & Environment Links: The EU-backed Babukisi Foundation and Eswatini Theatre Club have each received E1 million to create new heritage narratives, including a visual art exhibition tied to Siswati names of the month and their connection to environmental conservation. Cross-border Cooperation: Eswatini’s commerce minister Manqoba Khumalo met Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung in Taipei to discuss bilateral trade and cooperation, including support for the Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park project.

Banking & Climate Risk: EswatiniBank says loan impairments jumped from E7.1m (2025) to E45.6m (2026), lifting credit impairments to 8.6% as job losses, climate-related shocks hitting agriculture, and delayed supplier payments strain borrowers. Wildlife & Citizen Science: Conservation groups are reviving South Africa’s National Crane Census (24–27 July), asking the public to report sightings via WhatsApp to track the Blue, Wattled and Grey Crowned cranes and spot breeding gaps. Regional Trade & Investment: Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships ahead of its 29–31 July Investment Conference, aiming to attract investors and align expectations early for “tangible investment opportunities.” Gender Justice in Education: Eswatini is intensifying efforts against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education under Litsemba Rising, citing high risks for young women and students. Leadership & Connectivity: MTN Eswatini appoints Jerry Soko as CEO from 1 July, citing improved momentum, operational discipline and customer focus.

Wildlife & Citizen Science: South Africa is set for a four-day national crane census (24–27 July), led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust with the International Crane Foundation, tallying the Blue Crane, Wattled Crane and Grey Crowned Crane. Organisers are asking the public to submit sightings via WhatsApp with location details to update distribution and spot breeding areas. Regional Conservation: A new five-year cheetah conservation partnership will expand science-based cheetah work, including translocations and biodiversity initiatives across Southern Africa, building on the first successful cheetah reintroduction in the Kingdom of Eswatini after decades. Gender & Safer Campuses: Eswatini is intensifying efforts to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education through the Litsemba Rising initiative, after findings showed high lifetime sexual violence among young women and higher assault risk for students. Trade & Investment (Environment-linked): Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships ahead of its Investment Conference (29–31 July), aiming for sustainable growth and investment outcomes. Health (TB): A SADC TB report warns progress is plateauing and funding cuts could derail 2030 elimination targets, with the region still carrying a heavy share of global TB.

Wildlife & Citizen Science: The Endangered Wildlife Trust, with the International Crane Foundation, is urging South Africans to join a four-day national Crane Census in July to track crane numbers and distribution using modern tech—vital for conservation decisions in the Drakensberg, a global hotspot for Blue, Wattled and Grey Crowned cranes. Trade & Investment: Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships ahead of its second Investment Conference (July 29–31), aiming to attract quality investors and turn “connection” into real deals. Regional Industry & Funding: At the 9th SACU Summit in Cape Town, leaders backed accelerated reforms and agreed to set up a Regional Innovative Funding Mechanism with an initial N$5 billion to support development projects across SACU. Higher Education Safety: Eswatini is strengthening safeguards against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education through the Litsemba Rising initiative, sharing findings from a dialogue held in Mbabane on 30 June. Conservation & Cheetahs: A new five-year cheetah conservation partnership will expand science-based translocations and biodiversity work across Southern Africa, including Eswatini’s first successful cheetah reintroduction after decades. Local Governance & Jobs (Regional spillover): Xenophobic violence in South Africa is driving immigrant workers away, with clothing factory closures in KwaZulu-Natal raising fears of sector collapse—an indirect warning for regional labour and stability.

Wildlife & biodiversity: A new five-year partnership will expand science-based cheetah conservation, including translocations and ecosystem restoration, with Eswatini highlighted for hosting the first successful cheetah reintroduction after decades. Gender & safer campuses: Eswatini is intensifying efforts to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education, citing research that one in four young women has experienced sexual violence and that students face higher assault risks. Regional trade & investment: Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships ahead of its Investment Conference (July 29–31), while SACU leaders call for accelerated reforms and new industrial value chains, including fertilisers, agrochemicals, seed production, and green mineral beneficiation. Health focus: A SADC TB report warns progress is plateauing and 2030 elimination targets are at risk due to a “global funding shock,” even as incidence has fallen since 2016. Water stress (global lens): A new global map shows extreme water stress in several countries, underscoring how climate shifts and rising demand can strain freshwater supplies. Business & jobs: MTN Eswatini confirms Jerry Soko as CEO from July 1, after an acting stint that focused on network reliability, customer engagement, and disciplined execution. Social tensions (regional spillover): Reports from South Africa describe xenophobic violence driving immigrant workers away from clothing factories—raising concerns about labour dependence and sector stability.

Sexual Violence Prevention in Higher Education: Eswatini is stepping up safeguards against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in colleges and universities under the Litsemba Rising initiative, after findings showed one in four women aged 19–24 has experienced sexual violence and higher-education students face far higher risks than non-students. Wildlife & Biodiversity: A new five-year partnership will expand science-based cheetah conservation across Southern Africa, including support for translocations and the first successful cheetah reintroduction in the Kingdom of Eswatini after decades of local extinction. Regional Trade & Industrial Policy: At the 9th SACU Summit, leaders backed reforms to keep the customs union competitive, including work on regional value chains (fertilisers, agrochemicals, seed) and a new N$5 billion innovative funding mechanism for development projects. Investment Push: Eswatini is promoting regional partnerships ahead of its second Investment Conference (July 29–31), aiming to attract investors and turn collaboration into concrete deals. Cultural Heritage with Environmental Links: The EU-backed Co-Creation of New Heritage Narratives project (E1m to Babukisi Foundation and Eswatini Theatre Club) will create productions including a visual art exhibition connecting Siswati names of the month to environmental conservation. Leadership & Digital Growth: MTN Eswatini has appointed Jerry Soko as CEO effective July 1, after an acting stint focused on operational discipline and customer engagement.

TB in Southern Africa: The 2025 SADC Annual TB Progress Report says TB incidence fell 26% since 2016, but the region still carries 55% of WHO Africa notifications, with progress plateauing and a “global funding shock” putting 2030 elimination targets at risk. Wildlife & biodiversity: A new five-year partnership will expand science-based cheetah conservation, including translocations and ecosystem restoration; it also highlights Eswatini’s first successful cheetah reintroduction after decades. Water stress data: A global map shows countries using far more freshwater than nature can replenish, underscoring how climate shifts and rising demand can intensify scarcity pressures. Gender safety in higher education (Eswatini): Eswatini is strengthening safeguards against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in universities, following findings that one in four young women has experienced sexual violence. Regional investment for sustainability: Eswatini is pushing regional partnerships ahead of its Investment Conference, while SACU leaders back reforms and a new N$5 billion innovative funding mechanism to support development projects. Cheetah conservation in Eswatini: The cheetah reintroduction work is positioned as a model for coordinated, science-driven conservation across borders.