At least 55% of graduates who participated in the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP) have secured jobs, according to UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin.
Franklin revealed this at the UN Building in Mbabane during the graduation of the first cohort of 20 UNDP Student Ambassadors.
Franklin noted that since its launch, EYEP has supported over 300 young graduates to gain work experience, with more than half successfully transitioning into employment.
“This achievement reflects EYEP’s impact in providing pathways into the labour market. However, it also highlights the urgent need to expand opportunities so that more graduates can benefit,” he said.
Franklin added that the Student Ambassadors Programme would run alongside EYEP, forming part of UNDP’s two-track approach to addressing youth unemployment in the kingdom.
“With youth unemployment hovering at over 56%, EYEP represents one of the most promising initiatives to bridge the gap between education and the job market”, he said.
EYEP is a joint initiative by the Government of Eswatini, UNDP, tertiary institutions, the private sector and civil society. Its goal is to tackle youth unemployment by providing young graduates and out-of-school youth with access to practical skills, work experience, and workplace mentoring.
The programme was endorsed by the Cabinet in August 2022 and officially launched by His Majesty King Mswati III in November of the same year.
EYEP operates through two main streams: graduate internship placements with mentorship, and artisanal training for non-graduates.
Once admitted, graduates receive monthly stipends while working in host institutions. Non-graduates, on the other hand, are trained in trades such as plumbing, upholstery, and construction, and receive starter kits to facilitate self-employment.