Eswatini Environment Fund

1.0 Environment Fund

The Eswatini Environment Fund is established by the Environment Management Act 5 of 2002 and strives for an environmentally healthy Kingdom of Eswatini for sustainable livelihoods and well-being of Emaswati. The purpose of the fund is to promote environmental sustainability at grassroots level in the country. The Eswatini Environment Authority through the Board of Trustees (BOT) manages the operations of the fund, including inter alia, the identification of activities that stand to benefit from the fund from time to time.

2.0 Objective s of the Fund

The Act provides the following as the objects of the Fund
• To aggregate funds from different sources to ensure sustainable funding for programmes, projects and activities that provide for and promote the protection, conservation and enhancement of the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources.
• To provide financial support for activities aimed at the enhancement, protection and conservation of the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources and supporting community participation in these activities.
• To enhance and restore the environment of Eswatini.

3.0 Eligibility

Project proponents eligible for financing from the EEF.
• Community as a whole.
• Environmental groups within communities.
• NGOs engaged in community-wide environmental initiatives.
• Individuals whose projects portray clear positive impacts to the environment and wider community.

4.0 Priority Areas

The Eswatini Environment Fund seek to tackle emerging environmental risks facing the country in five thematic areas:
• Sustainable Land Management
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Water Availability, Use and Management
• Chemical and Waste Management
• Ecosystem, Habitat, Biodiversity Protection and Sustainable Use

5.0 Size of Grants.

The Fund will award small grants (to a maximum of E300, 000) for eligible projects. At least 80% of this grant should go into the environmental activity itself, with 20% used for other administrative issues where necessary.

6.0 Checklist

A set of criteria has been established to judge a project’s eligibility for financing. This is as laid down below:
• Letter from local authority (Umphakatsi) approving the project.
• If there are any other funders for the project, attach the award letter.
• If technical assistance is to be sourced externally, provide commitment letter from expert.
• If there’s any detailed document that explains the concept the concept, attach it.
• Project must ensure gender balance and should demonstrate women representation in project leadership. Attach list of committee members and copies of their IDs
• At least 80% of the funding must go to the actual project and at most 20% for administration costs;
• Projects must benefit more than 5 homesteads
• Availability of Technical Assistance is encouraged

Approved projects for 2019/2020 cycle

Macudvulwini Conservation and Ecosystem restoration Project

Background

The wetland is a source for river Landvwala and because of its degradation the amount of water in the stream has decreased drastically such that if the problem persists the community will lose its clean water supply. The main driver of the wetland degradation is alien invasive species, eucalyptus. The Eucalyptus forest used to be 30m away from the wetland but it eventual encroached and invaded the wetland. The eucalyptus invasion chocked the wetland and resulted to a decrease in the amount of water which had an impact on the diversity and amount of plant and animal species found in the wetland.

The project was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (Land Development Department) which provided technical expertise on donga rehabilitation and Montigny provided technical assistance on spraying the weeds on the wetland and also providing trees for the donga rehabilitation project. MoA and Montigny support has been very cost-effective as more work was done with little budget. The project benefits about 135 homesteads across different communities. It is steered by the Executive Community Development Committee. This committee is made up of 6 males and 1 female including a youth member

Objectives of the Project

• To stop the expansion of dongas
• To explore the potential for bee-keeping
• To restore wetland to its original state to ensure enough water for both humans and livestock

Key Achievements

• Gabions have been installed in the dongas by a highly committed community involving mostly young people.
• The wetland has been cleared and fenced, resulting in increased flow of water.

1. Wetland under rehabilitation                                           2. Insertion of Gabions for rehabilitation purpose

Project Challenges

• The cutting done of the exotic species such as the wattle trees took a longer time as some of the community members claimed ownership.

Conclusion

The project has been very good in effecting the desired outputs and promises to produce very favourable outcomes that will even support the livelihoods of the community. There is already increased water flow from the wetland and homesteads downstream will soon be able to harvest this water for household consumption and other uses

Mbelebeleni Wetlands and Donga Rehabilitation Project

Background

This is a community project under Mbelebeleni Chiefdom under Mkhiweni Inkhundla it is estimated to directly benefit 49 homesteads. This project has a project committee that is led by a male and has 7 members (4 Males & 3 Females). Of these are 2 youths (1 Male & 1 Female). The project records a consistent participation of 24 members (16 Males & 8 Females). The community used a low-cost approach when implementing the project especially during the reintroduction of plant species into the wetland.

Project Objectives

• To secure the wetland which is used to preserve wildlife and natural habitat, and plant Lukhwane, Incoboza, Inkalimuzi, Umtsala and Indvuli
• To rehabilitate the eroded donga and plant indigenous trees and plants

Key Achievements

• Wetland have been secured through fencing and fruit trees, indigenous trees like Lukhwane, Incoboza, Indvuli, Gobho, Zulucwathile among others already planted.
• Gabions placed in donga and fruit trees planted and fully fenced.
• Sandanezwe eradicated in project area.

1. Inspection of gabion insertion                                 2. Fenced wetland

Challenges

• Rains interrupted operations in the set time frame, rains washed part of what was done
• Delays in delivery of material, some delivered separately
• Emerging that had to be resolved with project neighbouring homestead and was resolved but time was lost in the process
• Lack of adequate knowledge in the beginning of project (project plan), most had to be learnt along the way

Conclusion

This project success will contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded land and the conservation of biodiversity. Both the wetland protection and donga rehabilitation activities are complete and expected to achieve the expected outcomes of this project. Participants were also able to gain a lot of skills and experience. The project is well managed and the Umphakatsi is fully involved, something that ensures equal access to benefits especially for women and youth.