The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) conducted an appraisal mission to consult with in-country stakeholders and to assess the readiness of Eswatini to establish and implement an SGP country programme under the 7th Operational Phase of SGP. Mission activities included briefing government and non-government stakeholders about SGP, identifying lessons learned, opportunities, challenges, possible partners, past and existing initiatives as well as getting feedback from the key stakeholders.

During the mission, consultations and meetings were held with several country stakeholder representatives including Government, NGOs, Youth organizations, and other development partners in the country. The mission was led by Charles Nyandiga, Regional Focal Person for Anglophone Africa, and Yoko Watanabe, SGP Global Manager from SGP and included presentations on SGP to the national stakeholders, with emphasis on SGP Operational Guidelines, the SGP strategy for GEF 7, and other key information. 

As a result of the mission, SGP will start operations in Eswatini last in 2019 when a National Coordinator is recruited and will be hosted by the UNDP country office.