Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project

Gender Mainstreaming Week | Voices of Change

This week, we're highlighting the voices of community members whose lives and communities have been transformed through gender mainstreaming. Today, we hear from Nompumelelo Masuku, Chairperson of the Nkhaba Chiefdom Development Committee, as she reflects on the changes she has witnessed.

Gender mainstreaming is strengthening community participation, fostering shared responsibility, and ensuring that no one is left behind in restoring the ecosystems we all depend on.

The Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project is executed by this Eswatini National Trust Commission, implemented by the UN Environment Programme, with funding from the Global Environment Facility.

Building Gender Responsive Farmer Field Schools for Lasting Impact

The Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), conducted a Gender Mainstreaming Training for Farmer Field School (FFS) Lead Farmers in Nkhaba.

The training brought together 34 Lead Farmers, including 27 women, 7 men, 5 youth, and 1 person with special needs, reflecting MERP's commitment to ensuring that ecosystems restoration and sustainable agriculture are inclusive and leaves no one behind.

The training is designed to strengthen participants' understanding of gender mainstreaming by exploring the differences between gender and s*x, examining gender and household roles, and highlighting how inclusive participation contributes to stronger households, thriving communities, and more productive farming systems. Participants also discussed the importance of empowering women and men equally in agriculture, creating opportunities for youth, and ensuring that every member of the community has a meaningful role in sustainable development.

Beyond gender equality and social inclusion, the training reinforced the link between responsible farming practices and environmental conservation. Discussions focused on reducing harmful environmental impacts by promoting the proper disposal of agrochemical containers, discouraging indiscriminate tree cutting, encouraging sustainable planting practices, and protecting natural resources through environmentally responsible farming.

A key highlight of the training was the commitment made by Lead Farmers to actively mentor the next generation of farmers. Participants pledged to involve their families in agricultural activities by allocating small garden plots where they can grow and market their own produce or by sharing a portion of farming profits with the youth who contribute to farm activities. This practical approach will help cultivate agricultural knowledge, entrepreneurship, and an appreciation for sustainable farming from an early age.

By investing in the capacity of Lead Farmers, MERP is strengthening local leadership, promoting inclusive agricultural practices, and building resilient communities that are better equipped to restore ecosystems while improving livelihoods.

Protecting Restoration Starts with Preventing Fire

Fire season has arrived, and with it comes a shared responsibility to protect our communities, rangelands, forests, and the restoration gains that are being achieved across the Mbuluzi River Basin.

This week, community members at Mbelebeleni participated in Integrated Fire Management training aimed at strengthening local capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to veld fires. The training forms part of ongoing efforts under the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in partnership with the Eswatini Forestry Department and Eswatini National Fire & Emergency Services.

While fire can be a useful land management tool when properly controlled, uncontrolled fires remain one of the greatest threats to rangelands, biodiversity, livelihoods, and restoration investments. A single fire can destroy grazing land, damage ecosystems, threaten homes and livestock, and reverse years of environmental recovery.
Participants were equipped with practical knowledge on fire prevention, firebreak maintenance, safe burning practices, early fire detection, and community response measures.

During Fire Season

✅ DO
1. Maintain firebreaks around fields, grazing areas, forests, and homesteads.
2. Report fires immediately to local authorities and emergency services.
3. Monitor weather conditions before conducting controlled burns.
4. Work together as communities to reduce fire risks and respond quickly to outbreaks.

❌ DON'T
1. Burn vegetation on windy days.
2. Leave fires unattended.
3. Throw cigarette butts into dry grass or along roadsides.
4. Assume someone else has already reported a fire.

While fire can be a useful land management tool when properly controlled, uncontrolled fires remain one of the greatest threats to rangelands, biodiversity, restoration investments, and community livelihoods. Preventing fires is everyone's responsibility.
Together, we can protect our landscapes, safeguard restoration gains, and build more resilient communities.

Rangelands: Recognize, Respect, Restore

Stakeholders from government, traditional leadership, local communities, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector gathered today at the Mbelebeleni Donga Rehabilitation Site to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026 under the theme "Rangelands: Recognize, Respect, Restore."

The commemoration was hosted through the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Eswatini, Eswatini Forestry Department.

The choice of Mbelebeleni as the host site reflected the importance of investing in landscape restoration and sustainable land management. Once characterised by severe soil erosion and land degradation, the site is now demonstrating how collective action, community participation, and strong partnerships can transform environmental challenges into opportunities for restoration, resilience, and sustainable development.

As part of the commemoration, stakeholders participated in restoration activities on site, including the planting of trees generously donated by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), further contributing to ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the landscape and strengthen ecosystem resilience.

As stakeholders witnessed restoration efforts on the ground, the event highlighted the critical role that healthy rangelands play in supporting livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, food security, water resources, and climate resilience for present and future generations.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026

Healthy rangelands are essential for sustaining livelihoods, supporting biodiversity, protecting water resources, and strengthening resilience to climate change. Yet across the world, these valuable landscapes continue to face increasing pressure from land degradation, unsustainable land use practices, and climate-related challenges.

Today, Eswatini joins the global community in commemorating the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought under the theme focused on the importance of restoring and sustainably managing rangelands as a foundation for resilient communities and healthy ecosystems.

The national commemoration is being hosted at the Mbelebeleni Donga Rehabilitation Site, where restoration efforts are demonstrating how collective action can reverse land degradation and create opportunities for both people and nature to thrive.

Through the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, communities are working alongside government institutions and development partners to restore degraded landscapes, promote Sustainable Land Management, and strengthen ecosystem resilience across the Mbuluzi River Basin.

The rehabilitation of the Mbelebeleni Donga serves as a powerful reminder that land restoration is not only about repairing damaged landscapes. It is about protecting livelihoods, supporting food security, safeguarding natural resources, and ensuring that future generations inherit productive and resilient ecosystems.

As we commemorate this important day, we celebrate the communities, partners, and stakeholders who are contributing to restoration efforts across Eswatini and reaffirm our collective commitment to restoring land, strengthening resilience, and securing a sustainable future.

As Fire Season Approaches, Communities Strengthen Their Preparedness

With fire season approaching, the need for coordinated action to prevent and respond to wildfires becomes increasingly important. Across the Mbuluzi River Basin, uncontrolled fires continue to pose significant risks to biodiversity, protected areas, water resources, community livelihoods, and critical ecosystems.

This afternoon, community members from Nkhaba participated in the first field-based training under the Protected Area Integrated Fire Management System (PA-IFMS), an initiative supported through the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The training was delivered in collaboration with the Eswatini Forestry Department and Eswatini National Fire & Emergency Services, whose technical expertise is helping strengthen fire preparedness and response capacity within communities and protected areas.

The training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen integrated fire management across the Mbuluzi River Basin by promoting practical knowledge, improving preparedness, and enhancing coordination between communities, protected areas, and relevant institutions. Unlike traditional workshop-based approaches, the PA-IFMS adopts a community-based training model that allows participants to engage directly within their own landscapes and better understand local fire risks and response strategies.

As the first site selected for implementation, Nkhaba serves as an important learning platform for the phased rollout of the programme to other communities across the basin. Participants were introduced to key principles of fire behaviour, fire prevention, preparedness, response coordination, and fire safety, helping to build the skills needed to reduce wildfire risks and protect both people and ecosystems.

Through Component 3 of the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project, support is being provided to strengthen protected area management, improve ecosystems resilience, and promote collaborative approaches to natural resource management. Integrated fire management plays a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, protecting habitats, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting the long-term health of landscapes within the Mbuluzi River Basin.

By investing in local knowledge and community participation, the project is helping establish a stronger foundation for coordinated fire management and ecosystems protection across Eswatini's most important conservation landscapes.

Where the Earth Once Gave Way, Hope is Taking Root

For years, the Mbelebeleni Donga stood as a visible reminder of the impacts of land degradation. Productive land was lost, erosion continued to spread, and a growing scar on the landscape threatened both livelihoods and natural resources.

Today, that same site is becoming a powerful example of restoration in action through the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Eswatini.

As Eswatini prepares to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on 17 June 2026, the Mbelebeleni Donga Rehabilitation Site offers a compelling example of how communities, government institutions, and development partners are working together to restore degraded landscapes and strengthen resilience.

This article explores the journey from degradation to restoration and highlights why restoring land is about more than repairing damaged ecosystems. It is about restoring livelihoods, protecting natural resources, and creating opportunities for future generations.

Read the full article below.

Where the Earth Once Gave Way, Hope is Taking Root | Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project Where the Earth Once Gave Way, Hope is Taking Root For years, the Mbelebeleni Donga stood as a visible reminder of the impacts of land degradation. Productive land was lost, erosion continued to spread, and a growing scar on the landscape threatened both livelihoods and natural resources. Today, tha...

Building Restoration Through Collective Action

Hand by hand, stone by stone, the people of Mbelebeleni are helping to restore their land.

At the Mbelebeleni Donga Rehabilitation Site, community members are working side by side, passing stones from one person to another to support the construction of erosion control structures that will help stabilise the donga and protect the surrounding landscape. What may seem like a simple activity is a powerful demonstration of community spirit, cooperation, and commitment to a shared future.

These stones will form part of the restoration structures designed to slow erosion, retain soil, and rehabilitate degraded land. More importantly, they represent the collective effort of local people who are taking an active role in restoring the natural resources on which their livelihoods depend.

Notably, women have been at the forefront of today's activities, actively participating in physically demanding restoration work and demonstrating the important role they play in environmental stewardship and community development. Their involvement reflects the project's commitment to gender mainstreaming and inclusive participation in ecosystems restoration.

Through the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Eswatini, communities are not only benefiting from restoration efforts—they are leading them.

The rehabilitation of the Mbelebeleni Donga is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, government institutions, and development partners work together towards a common goal. Every stone passed along the human chain is a step towards healthier land, stronger ecosystems, and a more resilient future for generations to come.

"Restoration begins with people."

World Environment Day 2026

Inspired by Nature. For Our Climate. For Our Future.

Today, through the Hlanyela Likusasa Campaign, we celebrate the learners who are choosing to lead by example, the schools nurturing environmental stewardship, and the communities taking action to protect nature for our climate and our future.

Through ecosystems restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and environmental education, the Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project (MERP), executed by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), continues to support a greener and more resilient future for Eswatini.

Every pledge matters. Every action counts.

Together, we can restore nature, strengthen climate resilience, and build a greener Eswatini.