Elections will be completed by the time the 2023 SDG Summit is convened. The number of women who will be elected will be a result of previous actions. The time to prepare for the next elections and put in mechanisms for greater women participation is now.

Election is not only the only avenue for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. Affirmative action for women is needed in for example the creation of decent jobs (target 8.5). Where as there is a narrowing in labour force participation rates (54.0% men vs 47.1% females), the share of women in vulnerable jobs (38.2%) is far greater than that of men (26.8), according the World Bank.

For Eswatini, investment in opportunities for women also needs investment in tackling inequalities (target 10.1) by extending services to the chiefdoms, especially in rural areas (target 11.1). According to Eswatini VNR 2022, poverty is most pronounced in rural areas at 70.2% than urban area 19.6% (2017).

Sanitation, especially in Eswatini’s homesteads is considered not just a quick win, it will also impact other 132 SDG targets positively. Yet, according to the VNR 2022, only 46% households have improved sanitation, when it is 72% and 82% for water and electricity respectively.

Investment in sanitation will also drive local manufacturing (target 9.2) of basic inputs for an improved latrine, which are a concrete block, a pipe and a roof. If these are manufactured locally, they will create jobs (target 8.5), improve living conditions (target 11.1) and, above all, improve health outcomes (target 3.8).

Therefore, for this to be realized, Eswatini will nurture partnerships with the private sector (e.g. local manufacturers), with local authorities in the Chiefdoms and with civil society.

Eswatini will also invest in data (17.18) to measure progress to inform the Quarterly SDG Conversations. Examples will include the number of improved latrines constructed across the 300 chiefdoms, which in itself will enhance the voices of citizens.

The creation of decent jobs is Eswatini’s priority, due to the high level of unemployment (58.2% Source: LSF 2021), but also because of the positive impact this would have on other SDGs’ and sectors’ outcomes contained in the National Development Plan. The concern is also creating jobs whose earnings are commensurate with the standard of living.

A focus on creating decent jobs will trigger investments in sustainable agriculture systems (target 2.4), modern energy (target 7.1), digital public infrastructure (target 9.2) and in other sectors of the economy that will hold great promise. This may trigger new industries, for example in research and innovation.

To make this happen, it will be critical for Eswatini to invest in making data and analysis on the number of jobs being creating and the associated earnings available on a regular basis. This could be every month or every quarter to inform appropriate conversations. One avenue to be explored is the use of PAYE data collected every month by the Eswatini Revenue Service. This is also an opportunity to negotiate for gender disaggregated data to enable Eswatini to track any shifts in gender dimensions for job creation.