Policy coherence for development as a potential framework for creating synergies between disaster risk reduction,...

This article examines the potential of policy coherence for development (PCD) as a framework for addressing the complex nexus between disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change (CC) and food security (FS) in the context of Eswatini. While the interdependence of these domains has been recognised in theory and practice, policy responses in developing countries remain fragmented, resulting in duplication, inefficiency and weak implementation. Using an extensive literature review, the article conceptualises PCD and evaluates its capacity to provide horizontal and vertical policy integration, strengthen inter-ministerial and multi-stakeholder collaboration and align financial and operational mechanisms across governance systems. Five dimensions of policy coherence - conceptual, strategic, institutional, operational and financial - are employed to interrogate Eswatini's fragmented governance landscape, where more than a dozen policies and frameworks exist but fail to translate into coordinated outcomes in managing the DRR, CC and FS nexus. In Eswatini, where over 70% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture and recurrent drought exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, embedding PCD principles into policy-making structures could bridge the gap between ambitious developmental agendas and local implementation realities.

The study concludes that institutionalising PCD can enhance resilience by integrating DRR, CC and FS policies, fostering joint accountability among a wide array of societal role players and enabling more efficient resource allocation. By moving from conceptual recognition to practical implementation, PCD provides a pathway towards sustainable development and improved governance of the DRR, CC and FS nexus in Eswatini.