Eswatini’s financial and investment sector is gearing up for one of the most anticipated gatherings of institutional investors and thought leaders in the region—the 5th Annual Eswatini Institutional Investors Forum, set to take place on 27 and 28 May 2025 at Happy Valley Hotel, Ezulwini.
Under the theme “Building Resilience: Exploring ESG as a Critical Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy for Eswatini,” the Forum will convene top-level stakeholders to tackle the evolving investment climate with a special focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors.
The event is expected to attract senior policymakers, fund managers, regulators, academics, and a broad spectrum of financial professionals.
As Eswatini navigates the tides of global economic uncertainty, ESG principles are gaining traction as essential pillars for fostering long-term sustainability and financial security.
The Forum offers a platform for local and international experts to explore how ESG strategies can be effectively integrated into portfolio management, infrastructure financing, and development-focused investments.
This year’s speaker roster includes influential voices from across the continent, offering a blend of academic depth, practical experience, and strategic foresight. Among them are:
- Vuli Simelane, CEO, UNESWA Endowment Fund
- Futhi Tembe, CEO, Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF)
- Adrian Mill, MD & Environmental and Social Specialist, ESS
- Chris Hart, Executive Chairman, Impact Group of Companies
- Jubilee Bubala, Senior Environmental and Social Specialist, ESS
- Nomfundo Mamba, Senior Portfolio Manager, Central Bank of Eswatini
- Rodney Ndamba, CEO, Institute for Sustainability Africa (INŚAF)
- Tendai Matika, Head of Africa, UN-Supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
- Renata Lawton-Misra, Associate Director, Africa Carbon Trust
- Michael Ndinisa, CEO, MNCapital Group
According to the Forum organizers, the conversation around ESG has moved beyond buzzwords to become a cornerstone of risk management and strategic planning for pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and development finance institutions.
“The Covid-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for institutional investors,” says Michael Ndinisa, CEO of MNCapital Group. “It exposed vulnerabilities in traditional investment strategies. Now more than ever, there’s a push to align capital deployment with sustainability and social outcomes.”
The Forum promises unmatched networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities for a diverse group of financial and investment professionals.
These include pension funds and trustees, sovereign wealth fund professionals, and representatives from insurance and security firms. Fund managers, consultants, policy-makers, and regulators will also find immense value in the Forum’s content and strategic engagements. Legal, audit, and treasury departments, along with leaders in real estate and infrastructure funds, are encouraged to attend, as are technology and software providers. Additionally, the Forum welcomes participation from academia and think tanks, whose insights can further enrich discussions and outcomes.
Beyond informative presentations, the Forum will offer practical, hands-on sessions designed to equip attendees with the tools they need to navigate today’s complex investment landscape.
These sessions will focus on identifying and assessing ESG-related investment risks and opportunities, structuring resilient and diversified portfolios, and understanding evolving regulatory frameworks. The Forum also aims to foster cross-sector collaboration as a means to finance sustainable development more effectively.