Lobamba, eSwatini, 23 April 2020 – As part of its regional Covid-19 response plan, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is extending SZL 1,000,000 in grant funding to support ongoing relief efforts in the Kingdom of eSwatini. The grant will be used to purchase borehole pumps for underserved communities in eSwatini
The grant is extended as part of TDB’s corporate social responsibility programme, and rolled-out in collaboration with eSwatini’s National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRMC) and its National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
A press conference to mark the occasion was held at the Happy Valley Motel in Lobamba, eSwatini today where the grant was presented by Ms. Busiswe Alice Dlamini-Nsibande, TDB Board Member representing the Kingdom of eSwatini.
Cased borehole and pump system are essential ingredients to bolstering healthier living conditions during the pandemic. Not only do the boreholes provide safe and uncontaminated groundwater; they also assure sanitary and hygienic conditions and are installed nearer to the people.
Mr. Phil Mnisi, Chairman of NRMC says “It is a pleasure to work with an organization of TDB’s stature in the region. They have demonstrated commitment to developmental needs to those most in need and we are grateful for their support.”
In a prepared statement, Admassu Tadesse, TDB’s President and Chief Executive expressed that the Bank has an important role to play in helping the region cope against the shocks and gathering headwinds due to the global pandemic.“TDB lauds the growing measures that Governments have undertaken throughout the region. With this intervention, our goal is to deliberately infuse resources into specific areas that supplement Government’s efforts to bolster social safety nets. This is part of our broad response plan which, in addition to direct assistance as such, also provides targeted trade finance assistance to financial institutions, sovereigns and corporates facing liquidity challenges.”
These efforts will assist TDB Member States to curb the spread of a pandemic that threatens livelihoods and indeed the growth and transformation agenda of the region. Over the next few months, the Bank will continue to deploy additional resources to assist its Member States in their efforts to contain and mitigate the profound effects this pandemic, in collaboration with global and regional partners, with which, the Bank will be working closely to scale-up and synergize.
About TDB
Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is a multilateral, treaty-based, investment-grade development financial institution, with assets of USD 6.7bn. The Bank’s mandate is to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development through trade finance and project and infrastructure finance.
About the National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRMC)
The National Resource Mobilization Committee was established by the Government to implement the COVID-19 Emergency Plan.
About the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)
The National Disaster Management Agency is the Principal Institution for disaster Management established by Government, with the responsibility for the coordination and implementation of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRR/M), including disaster prevention, mitigation, adaptation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation.
Media Contacts
Anne-Marie Iskandar, Senior Communications Officer
Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
Trade and Development Bank
