In Eswatini, food insecurity erodes maternal and child nutrition, undermines healthy growth and increases the risk of malnutrition and chronic disease for thousands of mothers and children.

The Population Impact of Food Insecurity in Eswatini

In Eswatini, food insecurity has become a persistent challenge affecting the country’s economy and rural livelihoods. According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis, 243,483 people, about one in five citizens, faced Crisis-level hunger between June and September 2024. By October 2024, projections indicated that the number could rise to 304,000 people, or about 25% of the population.

Although mid-2025 figures show temporary improvement, food insecurity remains cyclical. Between June and September 2025, 193,000 people (16%) remained in Crisis or worse, and forecasts project that 259,000 people, more than one in five, will face severe food insecurity between October 2025 and March 2026. These recurring increases indicate ongoing structural challenges.

Climate variability continues to affect food security in Eswatini, as prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall disrupt agricultural production in a country where nearly 75% of the population depends on subsistence farming. The hardest-hit areas, the Lowveld Cattle and Maize zone, the Dry Middleveld and the Lubombo Plateau, reflect this geographic concentration of vulnerability. In the Lowveld Cattle and Maize zone alone, more than 72,000 people face Crisis-level hunger, the highest burden nationwide. Nearly 30,000 people in the Dry Middleveld and more than 9,400 in the Lubombo Plateau face similar conditions.

Consequences of Food Insecurity in Eswatini

The consequences of food insecurity in Eswatini extend beyond hunger and affect maternal health outcomes, infant development and child growth indicators. Stunting, a key indicator of chronic malnutrition, affects approximately 25% of children under 5, about 60,257 children nationwide. The highest rates occur in Lubombo and Shiselweni, where prevalence reaches 28% and peaks at 35% among children ages 18 to 23 months. Although national stunting rates declined from 30.9% in 2010 to 23% in 2017, disparities persist. Children in the poorest households experience stunting at rates above 30%, compared to fewer than 10% in the wealthiest households. Rural areas continue to face higher burdens, reflecting structural inequality.

Maternal undernutrition increases health risks. Limited dietary diversity raises the likelihood of iron, iodine and folate deficiencies, which are common in food-insecure settings. Inadequate folate intake during pregnancy contributes to anemia, low birth weight and neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Iodine deficiency can impair fetal brain development and contribute to long-term cognitive delays. When pregnant and lactating women lack access to diverse, nutrient-rich foods, health risks can extend to children.

Climate shocks further affect nutritional stability. Drought reduces crop production, livestock numbers and household food access, lowering dietary diversity. More than half of children ages 6 to 23 months do not meet the minimum acceptable diet, and exclusive breastfeeding rates have declined, increasing infant health risks. Acute malnutrition also remains a concern. An estimated 8,460 children ages 6 to 59 months experience acute malnutrition, including severe cases that require therapeutic treatment.

Initiatives To Address Food Insecurity in Eswatini

In response to prolonged El Niño-induced drought conditions that began in 2014, the Government of Swaziland, now Eswatini, declared a national disaster on February 18, 2016, and launched the $80.5 million National Emergency Response and Adaptation Plan (NERMAP) 2016 to 2022 to address food insecurity and its effects on maternal and child health.

As maize production declined and water shortages intensified, more than 300,000 people required urgent food assistance. The National Disaster Management Agency partnered with the World Food Programme and other United Nations (U.N.) agencies to distribute emergency food aid and support school feeding programs, helping stabilize nutrition for children in drought-affected communities.

Despite recent economic growth, food insecurity in Eswatini persists, with nearly 29% of the population facing acute food shortages and 26% of children under 5 affected by stunting. The Government of Eswatini has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to implement the 2022 to 2025 Country Programming Framework, which aims to mobilize $68 million to strengthen agricultural productivity, climate resilience and sustainable food systems.

Looking Ahead

Addressing food insecurity in Eswatini requires sustained action beyond emergency relief. Long-term progress depends on investment in climate-resilient agriculture, stronger rural livelihoods and nutrition-sensitive social protection systems. With national frameworks and international partnerships in place, efforts such as expanding irrigation, supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening maternal nutrition programs can help reduce vulnerability to future shocks. Strengthening food security policy with a focus on maternal and child health may support long-term resilience.

– Yuhan Rong

Yuhan is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr