Scoping Mission
Mbabane, Swaziland
1-3 July 2012

UN-DESA/DPAD fielded a scoping mission at the invitation of UNDP-Swaziland. UN-DESA held a series of meetings with Mr. Israel Dessalegne, UNDP Resident Coordinator, Dr. Zuzana Brixiova, UNDP Economic Adviser, Mr. Phil Minsi, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Swaziland, Mr. Patrick Ndzinisa, Chief, Policy Research at the Central Bank of Swaziland, Ms. L. Magagula, Chief Economist at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, and officials of the Swazi Bank (only domestically owned bank in Swaziland). During these meetings, the Swazi side expressed strong demand for alternative macroeconomic policy advice and support for their national development strategies to address the persistent problem of unemployment. UN-DESA assured them to develop a policy note to help identify the root causes of unemployment and recommend appropriate policy options. UNDP-Swaziland committed to collaborating with UN-DESA/DPAD and organizing a policy dialogue to disseminate the findings and recommendations of the UN-DESA policy note. The policy note was successfully developed by UN-DESA/DPAD.