Towards a Gender Equal World: the EU Gender Action Plan III

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• Gender marker: G2-Promotes gender equality as a primary objective 

• Period of implementation: 2021 - 2023 

• Amount: EUR 400,000

• Geographical area: Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific

• Implementing partners:

  • UNICEF 

  • Family Life Association of Eswatini 

  • Bantwana Initiative 

  • Young Heroes 

  • Nhloso Likusasa Le'lichakazile 

  • Junior Achievement 

  • Sebenta National Institute 

• Links to the project: 

  • https://www.unicef.org/eswatini/stories/eu-unicef-launch-project-mitigate-impact-covid-19-adolescent-girls  

  • https://www.unicef.org/eswatini/stories/eu-unicef-visit-children-supported-through-back-school-project

• GAP III’s Areas: 

  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights 

  • Economic and social empowerment

COVID-19 had clear, incredibly significant ramifications all across the globe. It also had some less obvious impacts on specific communities. In Eswatini, for example, prolonged school closures led to an increase in unintended pregnancies among young women. 

In response to the plight of many adolescent girls facing these (and related) challenges, the EU partnered with UNICEF and local focus groups to implement a two-year project aimed at mitigating these COVID-19 impacts on girls and other vulnerable populations. The project reached over 200 adolescent girls and boys with comprehensive support to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and ultimately better position them to play an active role in Eswatini’s future economic recovery. 

The lead partner, UNICEF, together with the Family Life Association of Eswatini, Bantwana Initiative, Young Heroes, Nhloso Likusasa Le'lichakazile, Junior Achievement, and the Sebenta National Institute, focused on pregnant adolescents, adolescent mothers/parents, young people with disabilities, and other vulnerable adolescents who have dropped out of school, due to lack of financial means. 

These target groups, with their intersectional challenges, form a significant component of the programme. For example, their ability to access medical services and medication was greatly impeded due to restricted access to most medical and health facilities. Due to their limited financial resources, they could not afford medical care in the private health facilities that were accessible. Mitigation efforts, including online learning programmes by the Ministry of Education, were not inclusive enough to cater for their educational needs, which meant being left further behind. 

The project considers and seeks to help address some of these vulnerabilities through a variety of direct support activities. Key among these are health and psychosocial support, education and school reintegration, and skills development and training for employability and livelihoods. 

The expected outcomes of these actions: 

• 200 pregnant and parenting adolescents reached with a standardised health information package and referred to specific health and social services; 

• 50% of identified beneficiaries reintegrated into school, and 90% of beneficiaries receiving education support progressing in school; 

• 30 beneficiaries enrolled in skills programmes, and 90% of beneficiaries completed training courses; 

• 60% of beneficiaries engaged in livelihood activities (12 months after intervention). 

By the time the project ends in December 2023, the results are impressive: 297 pregnant and parenting adolescents reached with health information packages and referred to specific health and social services; 62% of pregnant and parenting adolescents reintegrated into school overall; and 97.5% received educational support. 36 beneficiaries enrolled in the skills programmes, 85% of whom completed their training, with 7 students finding employment. In addition, 67% of the beneficiaries are engaged in livelihood activities pursuing various types of businesses that have been supported with start-up capital: a barber shop, a clothing outlet, a bakery, and a burger restaurant that will soon open.

The burden of COVID-19 was bad enough without confounding factors such as adolescent pregnancy. The EU and UNICEF are happy to join the fight against the problem and help build a stronger Eswatini. Under the Eswatini-EU MIP 2021-2027, the project is expected to be scaled up to reach all regions of Eswatini.

“I want to be an economist; I want to talk on behalf of the people who are poor.” Nonsikelelo did well in Grade 10, but her mum told her that they didn’t have money to pay for her school fees anymore. Fortunately, her grandmother went to the Royal Kraal, where she heard that Bantwana was recruiting beneficiaries for a new project funded by the European Union. She enrolled her granddaughter. Nonsikelelo is optimistic about a bright future.