Swaziland - Country assistance strategy
Riboud, Michelle | Hong Tan | Revenga, Ana
Swaziland has not been an active borrower from the World Bank in recent years. Low labor costs, stable industrial relations, and access to the sanctions-impeded South African market have provided Swaziland with ample direct foreign direct investment inflows for rapid economic growth. Since 1985 Bank assistance has mainly taken the form of sector work, project preparation and technical assistance driven primarily by Government requests. Recently, Swaziland has had to face several issues that threaten its economy. Economic growth in the 1980s has slowed, due to recession in South Africa, political uncertainty in the sub-region and periodic droughts in Swaziland. The peaceful transition in South Africa and the progress of demobilization and democratization in Mozambique offer both new opportunities as well as political and economic risks for Swaziland. In view of these issues, the Government sees a more active relationship with the Bank as a key element in addressing the challenge of the future. For the immediate future, the Bank assistance strategy will evolve around the following priorities: 1) maintaining macroeconomic stability; 2) stimulating private sector growth; 3) rehabilitating and expanding urban infrastructure and services; 4) accelerating human resources development; and 5) land tenure and women's legal status.
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