SWAZILAND GOVERNMENT
CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON THE SWAZILAND DEVELOPMENT INDEX & GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME OF ACTION
Concept Note
- 1.Background
In recent years, His Majesty, King Mswati III has pronounced the Nation’s Vision that Swaziland should become a first world country by the year 2022. It is now time to translate the Vision to practical and concentrated action within Government and across the nation. Only eight years are remaining until the target date of 2022. Within this period, the five year term of the newly elected Administration represents a large portion. Thus it is vital that the activities of the 2013-18 Administration should make a significant contribution towards the attainment of the Vision.
The process of operationalizing the national Vision 2022 begins with the need to adopt a shared definition of First World Status. Secondly, in line with His Majesty’s directive in his 2014 Speech From The Throne, the need for the development of a Swaziland Development Index (SDI) as a framework for operationalizing the Vision and providing a measurement of the country’s progress towards the Vision.
Since the delivery of the 2014 Speech from the Throne a series of consultations within Government have been conducted leading to the development of a Swaziland Development Index, which is composed of a set of indicators and targets to track the country’s progress to attaining the planned 2022 status. Concurrent to that, and motivated by the Vision 2022 through the Swazi Development Index (SDI), Government ministries and departments have been developing interlinked Action Plans for the period to 2022, the Five Year period (2013-2018) of the new Administration, as well as Annual (2014/15) Action Plans. The main focus has been the selection of key outcomes and outputs that will contribute maximally to the Vision 2022 through the SDI.
Government is now ready to consult the Nation on this important pioneering initiative of the SDI and the associated Programme of Action for the new Administration (2013-2018). Not only is Government desirous to solicit valuable inputs of all stakeholders across the Nation, but also seeks to ensure collective and inclusive decision-making as the country turns a critical new page that will determine its development trajectory. The SDI has been developed jointly by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Economic planning & Development. An internal consultation within Government on the SDI has also been carried out. The Prime Minister’s Office, through the Policy & Programme Coordination Unit (PPCU) has coordinated the development of the Programme of Action
A national consultative Forum is therefore planned to take place on 2ndand 3rdJune 2014 at the Esibayeni Lodge.
- 2.Objective and Outcomes
Objective:
- To sensitize the Nation on the proposed SDI and Programme of Action and elicit feedback on both.
Outcome:
- The public sensitised to the SDI concept and the Government Programme of Action.
- Feedback on the definition of First World Status, allowing Government to finalise it and having as a Swaziland customized working definition.
- Feedback on the set of indicators and targets for the SDI allowing government to finalise and approved the SDI and targets.
- Feedback on the proposed programme of action.
- 3.Forum Participants
A total of 500 participants will converge at the Forum, drawn from organizations/institutions and individuals from Government; The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Regional Administrators and Regional Secretaries, Members of Parliament, Senators, the Judiciary, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Bantfwabenkhosi, League of Churches, Council of Churches, Conference of Churches, Chief Executive Officers of public enterprises, Chairpersons of Public Enterprises, People with disabilities, Workers Unions, Commercial Amadoda, Chiefs, Tindvuna Tetinkhundla, Youth, Sports Council, Tingatja, Lutsango LwakaNgwane, Emabutfo, Development Partners, Heads of Financial institutions, and Employer Organisations, the Media, Commissions, Universities, Law Society, Traditional Healers and Local authorities.
- 4.Methodology, Structure and Content
The consultative Forum will be structured in the Smart Partnership Approach. It will be divided into three broad sessions, namely:
Session I: Opening & Plenary
This would involve overview presentations on the work that has already been done.
Session 2: Dialogue/Discussions
Participants would then break away into discussions of the key elements, namely:
- i.The Definition of First World Status
- ii.The Swazi Development Index and its component indicators
- iii.A summary of key outcomes and outputs
Tables would be allocated on sectoral basis to focus on the key sector outcomes and outputs allocated to it, along with the first 2 elements.
Session 3: Report Back Plenary
A sample of tables will give a presentation on the outcomes of their deliberations.
- 5.Workshop Dates, Venue & Duration
It is planned that the Consultative Forum will be held from 2nd– 3rdJune 2014 at Esibayeni Lodge.
- 6.Contact Details
Any enquiries related to the event should be directed to the following officers;
- Mr. Victor Nxumalo (76062003)- Prime Minister’s Office;
- Ms. Lonkhululeko Magagula (76062714)- Ministry of Economic Planning & Development;
- Mr. Colin Tshabalala (76063232)-Ministry of Economic Planning & Development; and
- Ms. Lindiwe Mbingo (76049411)- Prime Minister’s Office.
Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
Prime Minister
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