Eswatini's Sonia Paiva to Represent Women Farmers at COP31

Sonia Paiva, Founder and Director of the Woman Farmer Foundation, is set to represent Eswatini at the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye. She will participate as an official panellist in a side event titled "Restoring Land, Creating Jobs: Women Farmers Building Green Businesses Across the Commonwealth." This event, organised by the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, aims to explore ways to strengthen women-led agricultural enterprises.

Paiva's participation at COP31 highlights the contribution of women farmers to sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and rural economic development. With over three decades of business leadership and grassroots development experience, she will share insights into how small-scale women farmers can transition from informal production to commercially viable and climate-resilient businesses. Her presentation will also focus on the practical relationship between sustainable land management, agricultural productivity, and employment creation.

The Woman Farmer Foundation, under Paiva's leadership, has implemented various programmes to empower women in agriculture. These initiatives include the Woman Farmer of the Year Competition, cooperative development initiatives, and Innovative Climate-Smart Youth Tunnel-Production training programmes. Through these interventions, the foundation has worked to strengthen agricultural skills, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote climate-smart farming practices among women.

Paiva's experience as Managing Director of Eswatini Kitchen, a social enterprise connecting smallholder farmers to wider markets, will provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by women farmers. These challenges include accessing agricultural finance, adding value to their produce, and maintaining a consistent supply to formal markets. Her participation in COP31 will highlight both the progress made in Eswatini and the support required to unlock the full economic potential of women-led agricultural businesses.

The discussion at COP31 will explore practical ways for international financiers, development institutions, and policymakers to support women-led green small and medium-sized enterprises. A key consideration will be ensuring that funding mechanisms and support programmes are accessible to small-scale rural entrepreneurs without imposing administrative requirements that make participation difficult for grassroots businesses.

Paiva will join other key contributors, including event moderator Mxolisi Sibanda and Commonwealth Senior Director Suresh Yadav, in discussing opportunities to strengthen support for women farmers across Commonwealth countries. Her presence at COP31 represents an opportunity to bring Eswatini's experiences into the international climate change conversation, particularly on the role of women in restoring land, building sustainable businesses, and creating employment.

Paiva's participation in COP31 demonstrates that grassroots agricultural initiatives can contribute meaningfully to climate action while improving livelihoods and strengthening local economies. Her efforts will help raise awareness about the importance of supporting women-led agricultural businesses and promoting sustainable agriculture practices in Eswatini and beyond.

Key points

• Sonia Paiva will represent Eswatini at COP31, highlighting the role of women farmers in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
• The Woman Farmer Foundation has implemented programmes to empower women in agriculture, including the Woman Farmer of the Year Competition and climate-smart farming initiatives.
• Paiva's participation aims to explore practical ways for international financiers to support women-led green small and medium-sized enterprises.