The Government of Eswatini and the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE), in collaboration with IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), organized a virtual national workshop for the Eswatini Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation (CSPE), as a final step in the evaluation process.

The virtual event took place on 28 January 2022 and entailed the participation of representatives of the Government, development partners, civil society organization, private sector partners, and IFAD senior management and staff.

Opening the workshop, Mr Bongani Masuku, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, gave welcome remarks. Hon Jabulani Mabuza, Minister of Agriculture, delivered an opening statement. Dr Indran Naidoo, Director, IOE, gave an introductory statement. Mr Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, Programme Management Department, pronounced a statement. 

Mr Kouessi Maximin Kodjo, Lead Evaluation Officer, IOE, and Ms Tullia Aiazzi, Senior Consultant, presented the CSPE’s main findings, conclusions and recommendations. After a lively plenary Q&A session, Ms Jaana Keitaanranta, Country Director for Eswatini, IFAD, shared reflections on the future directions of the Eswatini country strategy. Ms Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Regional Director, East and Southern Africa Division, IFAD, delivered a statement. 

At the close of the workshop, Mr Howard Mbuyisa, Senior Agriculture Economist, Ministry of Agriculture, synthesized the main points emerging during the workshop discussions. Dr Naidoo and Hon Neal Rijkenberg, Minister of Finance, concluded the event delivering closing remarks.

The workshop was moderated by Ms Roxanna Samii and was attended by over 70 participants. 

A recording of the event is available here.