MBABANE – This year saw countries grapple with a cascade of shocks and economic turbulence, from ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty to catastrophic weather that tested communities.
Yet in the face of these challenges, nations including Eswatini proved far more resilient and adaptive in 2025 than predicted.
As the global economy weathered another year of shocks, trade tensions and climate-related disruptions in 2025 the year in review, Eswatini emerged among developing economies benefitting from targeted multilateral support aimed at resilience, job creation and sustainable growth.
The World Bank’s 2025 review paints a picture of a turbulent international environment marked by slowing global growth, persistent debt pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
Yet, it also highlights how countries that embraced reform, diversification and investment in productive sectors performed better than initially anticipated.
Eswatini’s recent engagement with the World Bank Group places it firmly within this group.
Over the year, Eswatini secured significant development financing, including US$39 million in concessional funding from the International Development Association (IDA), a US$51 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a US$10 million performance-based grant from the Livable Planet Fund (LPF1).
These resources are being channelled into priority sectors that align closely with the World Bank’s global focus on jobs, energy security, infrastructure and climate resilience.
One of the most visible areas of World Bank support in Eswatini has been the energy sector, which is increasingly seen as a foundation for economic transformation and private sector growth.
Through the ASCENT Eswatini programme, the country is positioning itself among a select group of African states aiming to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) – universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy – by 2030.
ASCENT Eswatini is expected to substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix while strengthening the country’s power systems and institutional capacity. This comes at a critical time, as energy reliability remains a constraint for local manufacturers, agribusinesses and emerging industries.
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