Fostering Sustainable Development through Eradication of Poverty by 2030 in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Eswatini

Abstract

This study investigated sustainable development through poverty eradication in Eswatini, a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, where approximately 60% of the population lives below the poverty line. With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline approaching and Goal 1 (No Poverty) remaining a critical challenge, this research sought to identify key factors contributing to poverty, examine their impacts on sustainable development, investigate effective reduction strategies, and develop a comprehensive framework for poverty eradication. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach underpinned by Interpretivism, the study collected data through semi-structured interviews with twenty participants comprising eight poverty alleviation programme officers and twelve individuals living in poverty, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed nine interconnected factors contributing to poverty: unemployment, high birthrate and teenage pregnancy, poor and expensive education, poor economy and high cost of living, poor governance, corruption, climate change, gender inequality, and poor resource utilisation. The study established that these factors interact in complex ways that compound disadvantage, particularly for women, rural communities, and youth. Poverty was found to significantly impede sustainable development across health, education, economic growth, gender equality, peace and security, and food security dimensions. Based on the empirical findings and grounded in the Basic Needs Approach and Modernization Theory, the study developed the Comprehensive Framework for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Sustainable Development (CFRPPSD), structured around four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Human Capital Development, Institutional Development, and Social Protection and Inclusion. The framework provides actionable guidance for coordinated poverty reduction efforts aligned with the SDGs. The study recommends that the Government of Eswatini adopt the framework, prioritising governance reform and anti-corruption measures as foundational interventions.