The Kingdom of Eswatini has witnessed many years of socioeconomic stability. However, in recent years, the country has been faced with sluggish economic growth, fiscal crisis, high levels of unemployment, poverty, political instability, and inequality. Nearly 59 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and 20.1 per cent below the extreme poverty line. Women, young people, Persons With Disabilities and People Living With HIV/AIDS are among the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. Poor job opportunities for young people remain a major concern in Eswatini, with 58% of young people aged between 18 and 35 years old being unemployed.

Challenges the Youth Faces

    Insufficient job opportunities, representation, and participation.
    Graduation rate outpaces employment creation due to economic downturn post-pandemic.
    Insufficient education that does not equip them with skills that will be in demand in the future, e.g., the 4th Industrial Revolution.
    Mismatch between the skills acquired and competencies required by industries.

Objective
To contribute towards improved youth employment by supporting graduates to gain work experience, and equipping out-of-school youth with artisanal skills to earn livelihoods.