This history illustrates a number ofthemes encountered in Swaziland that faces developingcountries and their external partners in Africa and beyond.Firstly, the history relates the experience of a small andcomparatively insular country in addressing complexchallenges deriving from rapid urbanization and, as aresult, the growing need to adapt governance systems andstructures. A second key issue is the challenge that smallnations like Swaziland face in attracting assistance. In theabsence of significant lending programs, institutions likeIBRD have limited resources available for advisory services,particularly given the ineligibility of middle incomecountries for most trust funds available in Africa. Thethird theme that emerges is the centrality of land. Accessto land in Swaziland is a cross-cutting issue thatinfluences outcomes in many sectors.A fourth importanttheme relates to the 'generational shift' which isa necessary concomitant of any serious decentralizationprocess. Finally, the history demonstrates that despite allthe challenges faced, Swaziland is persisting with itsinterdependent governance and urbanization reform agendas.Although Swaziland's long-term governance and urbandevelopment strategy was not formally defined in a donorapproved format, all the elements of a soundintergovernmental reform and decentralization process can beseen, retrospectively, to be in place. This long-termstrategy, which is similar to those being implemented by agrowing number of governments in the sub-Saharan region,should guide partner support for the required generational shifts.
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