New Children's Consultative Forum Gives Eswatini's Children a Stronger Voice in Shaping Their Future

A significant step towards strengthening child participation in Eswatini was marked with the official launch of the Eswatini National Children's Consultative Forum, a platform designed to ensure that children's voices are heard and considered in decisions, policies and programmes that affect their lives.

The launch took place during the official commencement of the 2026 Month of the Child, held under the theme "Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Every Child in Eswatini." The event brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, children and other stakeholders committed to advancing children's rights and wellbeing.

Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, Principal Secretary Siboniso Nkambule described the establishment of the Forum as a milestone in the country's efforts to place children at the centre of national dialogue.

"The voices of children are not only to be heard but must be placed at the centre of discussions on matters that affect them directly," he said, noting that children possess unique experiences, perspectives and aspirations that can help shape more responsive policies and programmes.

The Forum represents a formal commitment to institutionalising child participation in Eswatini. It creates a safe platform where children can express themselves freely, share their experiences and contribute ideas that can influence national strategies on issues such as education, health, child protection and social welfare. Through the Forum, children's recommendations will help inform decision-making processes, ensuring that solutions are grounded in the realities they face every day.

For organisations working with children, the establishment of the Forum reinforces the importance of engaging children not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as active partners in shaping their future.

During a panel discussion at the event, World Vision Eswatini's Ncamsile Dlamini echoed this principle, emphasising the importance of consulting children when designing services and interventions. She noted that listening to children's experiences helps stakeholders better understand what accessible, safe and dignified water and sanitation services mean from a child's perspective, ultimately leading to more effective and responsive programming.

The relevance of child participation was further demonstrated by children who participated in the panel discussion. They openly shared challenges affecting their communities, including reliance on unsafe water sources and inadequate sanitation facilities that compromise their health, dignity and wellbeing.

Their testimonies highlighted why children's voices matter. By creating a platform where children can contribute directly to conversations about issues affecting them, the Consultative Forum offers an opportunity for policymakers, development partners and communities to make more informed decisions based on children's lived experiences.

The launch of the Forum comes at a time when Eswatini is strengthening efforts to improve children's wellbeing across multiple sectors. This year's Month of the Child theme focuses on ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, recognising that access to these essential services is critical for children's health, education and overall development.

As activities marking the Month of the Child continue throughout June, the newly established Children's Consultative Forum stands as a powerful reminder that meaningful progress for children begins by listening to them. By creating space for children to participate in decisions that affect their lives, Eswatini is taking an important step towards building a future where every child is heard, valued and empowered to contribute to the nation's development.