This report quantifies child and orphan poverty in the Kingdom of Swaziland during
2001 and 2010. Poverty is understood as consumption (monetary) poverty and not as
multidimensional deprivation. Child and orphan poverty indicators are based on the
Swaziland Household Income and Expenditures Survey (SHIES). Additional indicators
for teen-aged men and women are calculated from the Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey
(MICS). Secondary literature is also addressed. Child poverty and teen-age indicators
have not been previously undertaken. Findings about orphan poverty from the SHIES
are consistent with previous results from the MICS.
The report considers social protection policy in Swaziland and recommends the adoption
of a child benefit to alleviate child poverty. Targeting options are explored and a proxy
means test (PMT) for child poverty is estimated. Areas for future research, including the
potential integration of the SHIES and MICS data are explored.