Swaziland

The last absolute monarchy in Africa, Swaziland is home to more than 1 million people, who are mostly rural and rely on subsistence agriculture. Over the last decade, erratic weather, the high price of food, inputs, and fuel, a decline in the use of improved agricultural practices, and the continuing impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic have made it more difficult for people to get enough to eat. With an unemployment rate of 40 percent, and 80 percent of the population relying on subsistence farming for survival, the lack of constant access to water has been one of the major obstacles to achieving sustained food production and the country’s overall development.

IRD started operations in Swaziland in 2007, in response to the ongoing drought emergency in the country. IRD’s programs have  focused on water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH), and food security and agriculture.

Programs

Conservation Agriculture in Swaziland

Much of southern Africa is caught in a cycle of drought and flooding, making it dif... more

Success Stories

Community Garden Helps Farmers Weather Drought

Deliwe Makama, a mother of five children, earns enough income to cover tran... more

Community Gardens Improve Standards of Living

Mrs. Ndabandaba lives with her husband and three children. She used to purc... more

Conservation Agriculture Helps Swaziland Farmer

Simon Ntamela is a 55-year-old native of Mozambique. He lives in Mpolonjeni... more

IRD Swaziland Launches Climate Change Project

IRD Swaziland successfully handed over its completed project and launched t... more

Phumelela Primary School: Rooftop Water Harvesting (RWH) System

Mr. Dlamini is the deputy principal of Phumelela Primary school and a membe... more

Reducing Drought Vulnerability for Swazi Farmers

Most of Swaziland’s 1 million people rely on subsistence agriculture, but o... more

U.S. Ambassador and USAID/OFDA Visits IRD Programs in Swaziland

On November 23, 2009, IRD hosted a field visit to launch the three-year Red... more