Poverty continues to be a major challenge in Swaziland, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the Swazi population were living in severe poverty in
2012 (Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, 2012). The 2012 Human
Development Index (HDI) reported that in 2007, 40% of the population were surviving on
food aid from the United Nations (UNDP, 2012), and the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) reported that 66% of the population were unable to meet basic food
needs while 43% were living in chronic poverty (IFAD, 2007). The government of the
Kingdom of Swaziland’s 2000 Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP) aimed
to reduce the prevalence of poverty from 69% in 2001 to 30% by 2015 and to eliminate it
altogether by 2022. The PRSAP also aimed to raise the quality of life of all people in
Swaziland to levels outlined in the National Development Strategy and to encourage citizens
to participate in the growth of their country (Ministry of Economic Planning and
Development, 2000).