EU helping to address mental health, gender inequality issues in Eswatini – EEAS

Project Report: ‘Khetsimphilo – Choose Life’ Initiative in Eswatini

Executive Summary

A new project, ‘Khetsimphilo – Choose Life’, has been launched in Eswatini to address critical issues of mental health and gender inequality among disadvantaged youth and women. This initiative, co-funded by the European Union (EU), directly aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. The project will be implemented over three years across all four regions of the country.

Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Primary SDG Focus

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The project’s central aim is to strengthen community-level mental health services and psychosocial support, directly contributing to Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being. It also addresses Target 3.7 through its focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights awareness.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality: A core objective is the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality. The initiative will tackle gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, a key component of Target 5.2 (eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls).
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By specifically targeting disadvantaged youth, women, and persons with disability, the project directly supports the goal of reducing inequalities within the country (Target 10.2).

Secondary SDG Contributions

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The project aims to improve the economic and social inclusion of its beneficiaries, addressing the challenge of youth unemployment, where an estimated 400,000 young people are not in any form of economic activity.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): By working to reduce school dropouts and support youth reintegration, the initiative contributes to inclusive and equitable quality education.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The project is a partnership between the European Union, Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society, and the Finnish Red Cross, exemplifying the global cooperation required to achieve the SDGs.

Project Details and Implementation Framework

Funding and Governance

• Project Title: Khetsimphilo – Choose Life
• Total Funding: EUR 4.2 million (approx. SZL 84 million)
• Funding Partners: European Union (co-funder)
• Implementing Partners: Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society and the Finnish Red Cross
• Duration: Three years

Scope and Objectives

Launched on 26 November 2025, the project will be implemented in 20 constituency centres across all four regions of Eswatini. It is a component of the EU-Eswatini partnership (2021–2027) focused on human development and social inclusion. The primary objectives are:

1. To empower disadvantaged youth and women, enhancing their economic and social inclusion.
2. To strengthen community-level mental health services and psychosocial support systems.
3. To promote gender equality through targeted interventions including GBV prevention, reduced school dropouts, and SRHR awareness.
4. To ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, such as persons with disability.
5. To foster community ownership and resilience through inclusive, locally-grounded approaches.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the ‘Khetsimphilo – Choose Life’ project in Eswatini highlights several interconnected issues that directly relate to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis identifies the following SDGs as being addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The project’s central focus on addressing “mental health” issues and providing “psychosocial support” is a core component of this goal. It also touches upon “sexual and reproductive health and rights awareness.”
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The project’s objective to “promote gender equality through reduced school dropouts” directly connects to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This is a primary focus of the project, which explicitly aims to tackle “gender inequality,” empower “disadvantaged youth and women,” and implement “GBV prevention and response” measures.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The project seeks to “empower these disadvantaged youth and women to improve their economic and social inclusion” and “support youth reintegration,” which addresses the challenge of youth unemployment highlighted by the statistic of “400 000 young people… not involved in any form of economic activity.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By targeting “disadvantaged youth and women,” supporting the “inclusion of marginalised groups such as persons with disability,” and promoting “economic and social inclusion,” the project directly works towards reducing inequalities within the country.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the project’s objectives described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The project’s aim to “strengthen community-level mental health services and psychosocial support” directly contributes to promoting mental health and well-being.
• Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services…” The project’s goal of raising “sexual and reproductive health and rights awareness” aligns with this target.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.1: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education…” The objective to achieve “reduced school dropouts” is a key step toward fulfilling this target, especially for disadvantaged girls.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.1: “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.” The project’s overarching theme of empowering “disadvantaged youth and women” and addressing “gender inequality” supports this target.
• Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…” The specific mention of “GBV prevention and response” directly addresses this target.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.6: “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” The article’s concern for the “400 000 young people in Eswatini are not involved in any form of economic activity” and the project’s aim to “improve their economic… inclusion” and “support youth reintegration” are directly related to this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” The project’s explicit goals to foster “economic and social inclusion” for disadvantaged youth and women and ensure the “inclusion of marginalised groups such as persons with disability” are a direct match for this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure the project’s success and progress towards the identified SDG targets:

• Proportion of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET): The article provides a baseline statistic: “at least 400 000 young people in Eswatini are not involved in any form of economic activity.” A reduction in this number would be a direct indicator of progress towards Target 8.6.
• School dropout rates: The project’s goal of “reduced school dropouts” implies that the school dropout rate, particularly among girls and disadvantaged youth, will be a key metric for measuring success under Target 4.1.
• Availability of mental health services: The objective to “strengthen community-level mental health services and psychosocial support” suggests that an increase in the availability and accessibility of these services would be an indicator for Target 3.4.
• Incidence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV): The focus on “GBV prevention and response” implies that progress could be measured by tracking the number of reported GBV incidents and the effectiveness of response mechanisms, which relates to Target 5.2.
• Rate of economic inclusion for marginalized groups: The goal to “improve their economic and social inclusion” for disadvantaged youth, women, and persons with disabilities implies that an indicator would be the number or percentage of individuals from these groups who secure employment or start income-generating activities, relevant to Target 10.2.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: eeas.europa.eu