MBABANE: The United Nations(UN) Eswatini will partner with the media in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, the UN Resident Coordinator disclosed during the commemoration of Press Freedom Day.

SDGs form part of the global development agenda that was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to promote peace and justice, fight poverty and reduce inequalities among others. Furthermore, the SGDs seek to advance global action and or partnership to improve health, education and enhance economic growth while advancing the global action to tackle climate change and preserving forests and oceans.

On Friday morning, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, UN Resident Coordinator met leaders of the Eswatini Editors Forum to discuss the media partnership including Eswatini Media Awards to be supported by the United Nations that seek to recognize excellence in reporting about the Sustainable Development Goals.

Reached for comments on Monday, Jabu Matsebula, the Secretary General of the Eswatini Editors Forum said even though the media remains one of the important players and or stakeholder in promoting the SGDs, all sectors across the society must take action to ensure sustained improvement of living conditions and reverse poverty.

“The SDGs are a global call for action against poverty across all its dimensions. To achieve the SDGs all sectors of society are required to take action to secure sustained improvement of living conditions and reverse poverty. The media as an important player in the social sector is one of the key actors with the capacity for leadership and direction. As a drum beater, media action can promote tempo and momentum while reporting actions supporting the goals and further maintain oversight of the functions of good governance that is necessary for quality coordination of actions to attain the goals. We believe the Editors Forum is particularly well placed to support achievement of the SDGs by acting within its normal responsibilities to society” ,said the Secretary General of the Editors Forum.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, some of the poor citizens survive through subsistence farming.