1. ABOUT THE ESWATINI ENVIRONMENT FUND

The Eswatini Environment Fund was established by the Environment Management Act of 2002. It provides financial support for programmes, projects and 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 promote environmental sustainability at grassroots level in the in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Fund is managed a by the Eswatini Environment Fund Board of Trustees (BoT) and the Eswatini Environment Authority performs the administration function of the Fund. The BoT is responsible for approving projects that are to be awarded grants from the Fund, from shortlisted projects that have been identified by a technical proposal selection committee of the experts from the pool of applications that have responded to the open national call for proposals.

     2. ELIGIBILITY

2.1 Projects that are eligible for funding by the Fund must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

  • Must have positive impact on community environmental enhancement, protection and restoration;
  • Enhance community livelihoods;
  • Must demonstrate sustainability beyond the funding period;
  • Must demonstrate community ownership or stakeholder involvement
  • Must demonstrate youth participation;
  • Must have the capacity to leverage additional resources.
  • The call for funding is open to:
  • Communities (rural, peri-urban, and urban);
  • Environmental groups within communities;
  • Non-Governmental Organizations engaged environmental protection initiatives.
  • Individuals whose projects portray clear positive impacts to the environment and wider community;
  • Educational and Research institutions.
  • 3. PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE 2023/2024 CYCLE

The Eswatini Environment Fund seek to tackle emerging environmental risks facing the country in all four administrative regions of the country. In this year funding cycle, the focus is on 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

4.0 SIZE OF GRANTS

The Fund will award small grants up to a maximum of E300, 000 for eligible projects. A minimum of 80% of this grant should go direct into the environmental action. In-kind contributions from involved stakeholders and community members are encouraged.

5.0 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 or Municipality) approving the project.

(    ) Detailed explanation of the concept.

(    ) If there are any other funders for the project, attach the award letter.

(   ) If technical assistance for implementing the project will be sourced externally,   attach   the commitment letter from the identified expert.

(   ) Project is inclusive, demonstrates youth and women involvement. Attach list of committee members and their signatures.

(     ) At least 80% of the funding goes to the actual project other than into administration costs.

(    ) The number of beneficiaries is stated such as the number of households.

  • APPLICATION PROCESS
  • Application forms are available at EEA website (eea.org.sz); can requested from EEA via email: reception@eea.org.sz or call: 2404 6960/ 7608 9222 or can be requested via WhatsApp: 78090040.
  • Applications should be submitted before or by 18 August 2023 (16:00Hrs). Submissions should be made in person to Eswatini Environment Authority offices in Mbabane, Rhus Office Park or via email to: reception@eea.org.sz.
  • Incomplete applications or a lack of required attachments (i.e. Letter from local authority) may result to disqualification of proposal.
  • All applications will be assessed by a technical committee of experts that will make recommendations to the Eswatini Environment Fund Board of Trustees after doing field verification of shortlisted projects.
  1. Physical, telephone call or email enquiries by project proponents are welcome at any time during the application process until the application deadline and should be directed to the Fund Officer via email: mfundo@eea.org.sz
  • Applicants will be advised of the Board of Trustees’ decision on their application in writing as soon as the selection process has been finalized.

7.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

(i) The Fund Officer will be monitoring and evaluating the progress of all funded projects. Where possible the Fund Officer may provide technical assistance and other services that will fast-track the completion of the project.

(ii)  To those projects that will require an Environmental Impact Assessment, the Environmental Assessment fees may be deducted from the award.

2023/24 CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR GRANTS

Download EEF Application Guidelines

Download EEF Application Form

Approved projects for 2019/2020 cycle
Project Name Inkhundla Total Grant (E)
1.      ESWIFT Waste Recycling Manzini South 100.000.00
2.      Emambatfweni Wetlands Protection Mahlangatja 150,000.00
3.      UNESWA Rehabilitation of Degraded Communities Lobamba & Nkomiyahlaba 150,000.00
4.      Macudvulwini Conservation & Ecosystem Restoration Ngwempisi 150,000.00
5.      Mbelebeleni Wetland and Donga Rehabilitation Mkhiweni 100,000.00
6.      Ngobolweni Ecosystem Rehabilitation & Restoration Kubuta 50,000.00
7.      Malindza Donga Rehabilitation Project Dvokodvweni 100,000.00
8.      Emfasini Donga Rehabilitation Project Mayiwane 65,000.00
9.      Mhlangeni Wetland Protection & Donga rehabilitation Lamgabhi 25,000.00
10.  Ngudzeni Young Heroes Donga Rehabilitation Lamgabhi 150,000.00
11.  Nyatsini Donga Rehabilitation Sigwe 100,000.00
Total Projects Portfolio Grant 1,140,000.00
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.

Eswatini Environment Fund approved projects for 2022/23

1. Sankolweni Project

• This is project is presented as a wetland management project, but covers three priority areas of the Fund: Sustainable Land Management; Sustainable Water Management; and Ecosystems, Habitat and Biodiversity Conservation.

• There is a wetland with great potential but is getting degraded by IAPS and livestock, resulting to wetland plant and animal species becoming scarce.

• The wetland also acts as a source of water for about 25 homesteads and one 5ha irrigated garden in the area. An intervention on this project can increase water supply for household use, agricultural production in gardens and livestock.

• The project area (wetland) also had a patch of land with soil erosion at its early stages, and it’s an ideal stage to rehabilitate it.

• The project team is well organized and composed of youth. This is an indication of good project implementation and ownership.

2. Bhidlilili Wetland Project

• This is a project that is proposed by WVE, which is a huge wetland that is ranked no. 2 in Eswatini in terms of size.

• This wetland is of national significance and an intervention on it would be a big achievement for the Fund, it can be a flagship project for the Fund.

• There is serious degradation happening in the wetland, with significant ramifications to the entire Shiselweni region and beyond that benefit from it for Likhwane.

• There is wetland degradation caused by livestock grazing and trampling in wetland area combined with encroachments of crop production fields into wetland.

3. Lusitini Land Rehabilitation Project

• This is a donga project that is supported by ESWADE who has a running land rehabilitation project in other parts of the same community where they also impact skills on mechanical donga rehabilitation.

• This donga is caused by roof run-off water and cattle tracks, and is now threatening crop cultivation fields adjacent to it.

• The owner of the cultivation fields approved the project to rehabilitate the donga to stop further damage. He is aware the land will no more be under his ownership but it will be owned and managed by the beneficiaries in the community of Lusitini.

• The group is organized and have a standing committee responsible in land rehabilitation to conserve the environment. It has women and youth representation.

• This donga is cutting a key road for the community, negatively impacting a nearby river and the surrounding homesteads and individuals including school going children.

4. Yonge Nawe Manyeveni Land Rehabilitation Project

• This is a donga project located next to the Manzini-Nhlangano main road at Nkwene Area, which has the support of ESWADE.

• The initial cause of the donga is the plaster sand mining. There are visible gullies that now threatens the Yithi Abantu Highway.

• This is a good project about capacity building on SLM and the management of the ecosystems.

• There is good community participation and the project team is led by a young person.

• This project can be used as a Centre of Excellence as it is by the main road thus good for marketing innovative solutions to erosion management.

5. Nkambeni Donga Rehabilitation Project

• There is real and extensive erosion caused by surface run-off water that has started to damage the Madlangempisi- Tshaneni tar road at the Mabiya junction.

• The community have done some efforts of installing gabions but the water is too powerful and is washing them away

• This project is led by youth

• The project is under the Chiefdom of Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe who is also the Minister of Public Works and Transport. Seeing this problem first hand may lead to the Minister and probably his Ministry to take seriously the damage caused by run-off water resulting to soil erosion and sometimes the destruction of roads. That is, this project and other projects thereafter may get support from this Ministry (PWT).

6. U-Tech’s Education for Sustainable Development Goals

• This is a climate change project, proposed by one of the leading schools in the Lubombo region. This presents an opportunity to use U-Tech as a pioneer school in teaching climate change concepts. Also, it can be used as a centre of excellence for surrounding schools and the entire Lubombo region, where practical learning can be facilitated for the entire region.

• This is a low budget project that is affordable to the Fund.