Photo Credit: Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE)

The project in Ndinda Chiefdom represents a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to restore degraded land. With an investment exceeding 511,111 USD, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Global Environment Facility under the Smallholder Market-Led Project, the initiative impacted 70 hectares and 66 households. The project rehabilitated a 1.1-kilometer-long gully, measuring 15 to 20 meters wide and 15 to 30 meters deep, which posed a threat to several households, the Royal Kraal, and a public road. 

Key components of the intervention included the construction of drainage channels, land reshaping to stabilize soil and prevent further erosion, and installation of gully plugs and wooden check-dams to regulate water flow and trap sediment. Additional works involved building an attenuation dam to capture storm water, constructing a footbridge for community access, fencing, grassing, and planting 285 fruit trees and 350 indigenous trees in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Forestry Department. The project provided employment opportunities for 40 local workers during implementation. It also supported local women who sold food at the site, while nearby homesteads benefited by renting accommodation to the contractor’s personnel.