47 Eswatini Climate Champions Honoured

Forty-seven Eswatini professionals were awarded certificates of completion at a prestigious ceremony held at the British High Commissioner’s Residence, Royal Villas, Ezulwini, on Friday 17, 2026 evening, marking a milestone in the country’s growing commitment to climate action and finance transparency.

The ceremony, hosted by His Excellency British High Commissioner Colin Wells, celebrated graduates of the Commonwealth ‘Write-shop’ Training on Enhancing Transparency on Climate Finance Reporting and Capacity Building for Access to Climate Finance. The intensive four-day workshop was held from 3 to 6 February 2026 and drew participants from across various government ministries, agencies and institutions.

Speaking at the event, H.E. Wells extended warm congratulations to the graduates, noting that the training was designed to bridge the gap between good ideas and funded climate projects. “Transparent reporting and strong proposals are the bridge between good ideas and funded projects that build resilience, protect livelihoods, and safeguard ecosystems,” he remarked.

The High Commissioner also highlighted the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Eswatini, anchored in shared values, diplomatic cooperation, and a common commitment to sustainable development. He noted that His Majesty King Charles III serves as Head of the Commonwealth, a body through which the UK channels technical expertise and practical support to member states, including Eswatini, which has valued its Commonwealth membership since independence in 1968.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta – Simelane, Commonwealth Secretariat’s Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH)’s Deepa Pullanikkatil as well as Acting Principal Secretary and Director of Eswatini Meteorological Service, Duduzile Nhlengethwa-Masina, alongside other distinguished guests.

The training was delivered in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It focused on strengthening participants’ skills in climate finance transparency, reporting, and proposal development, equipping them to translate ideas into actionable, fundable climate projects.

The evening also carried a celebratory national tone, coinciding with the lead-up to the Ruby Jubilee of His Majesty King Mswati III’s accession to the throne and his 58th Birthday celebrations, a moment H.E. Wells acknowledged as a fitting backdrop for honouring Eswatini’s forward-looking climate professionals.

For Eswatini, the ceremony represents more than certificates, it signals a growing pipeline of skilled voices ready to attract international climate finance and drive meaningful environmental resilience across the Kingdom.