BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has commended the Government of Kenya for providing a platform to engage in crucial discussions on building climate resilience for vulnerable urban communities during the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), stressing that the realities and needs of the urban poor must remain central to development planning.
Speaking on the sidelines of the global gathering, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Hon. Appolo Maphalala highlighted the growing urgency of strengthening climate resilience in informal settlements and vulnerable communities, particularly in developing nations facing mounting environmental and socio-economic pressures.
Minister Maphalala noted that the forum provided an important opportunity for meaningful engagement on strategies aimed at protecting urban populations most affected by climate-related risks. It stressed that policy and development decisions must place vulnerable communities at the forefront to ensure equitable and sustainable urban growth.
According to information from the Ministry, one of the greatest obstacles confronting developing countries remains limited access to affordable climate finance.
The Minister said many developing nations continue to experience serious barriers in securing global climate funding due to financing mechanisms that are often expensive and difficult to access. This challenge, they noted, has significantly slowed efforts to implement sustainable climate adaptation and resilience-building initiatives.
The Ministry further pointed to limited representation of developing countries within global financial institutions, where developed nations continue to hold substantial influence over financial decisions and funding priorities.
Additionally, inadequate institutional capacity to develop bankable and viable projects has further disadvantaged developing nations in accessing climate finance opportunities.
As a result, developing countries frequently face significantly higher borrowing costs than wealthier nations.
“The cost of debt for developing countries is often three times higher, or even more, than that of developed countries,” the Minister stated, underscoring the financial inequalities that continue to affect climate action efforts in less-developed economies.
Against this backdrop, he emphasised the importance of taking deliberate and coordinated action to address climate vulnerabilities and strengthen urban resilience.
Reference was made to the remarks delivered by His Majesty King Mswati III during the opening address to the meeting, where His Majesty underscored the need for sustained investment in renewable energy, green infrastructure, climate-resilient settlements, smart technologies and sustainable construction methods.
At the same time, His Majesty stressed that people must remain at the centre of all development initiatives to ensure that interventions respond meaningfully to the lived realities of communities.
He said this vision places responsibility on both national governments and municipalities to intensify investments towards upgrading informal settlements and strengthening infrastructure that improves resilience to climate-related shocks.
Officials argued that urban communities, particularly those in informal settlements, remain disproportionately vulnerable to climate disasters due to poor infrastructure, inadequate services and limited adaptive capacity.
By prioritising investment in sustainable housing, climate-smart infrastructure and resilient urban planning, governments can better equip communities to withstand future environmental and economic challenges.
The discussions at WUF13 are expected to contribute towards shaping policy approaches aimed at creating more inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient urban environments for future generations.
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