The Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP) has yielded impressive results, with nearly half of its graduate participants securing permanent employment following their placements.
This was revealed by Mavie Thwala, United Nations Development Programme Eswatini (UNDP) Programme Analyst, who has been at the forefront of the initiative since its inception.
Speaking at the launch of the UNDP-CIC Graduate Internship Programme, Thwala said 47% of the 156 graduates placed in host organisations during the programme’s pilot phase (2023–2024) were retained in full-time roles.
The programme offers internships and skills training for youth aged 18–35, tackling the education, job market gap and addressing the country’s growing skills mismatch.
“We were encouraged by this result. Whether placed in the public or private sector, many of these young people are now fully employed,” he said, recalling a heartwarming encounter with a former EYEP participant who is now working for a bank. “She approached me after a meeting to say thank you. She’s thriving, and it’s these stories that keep us going.”
Thwala noted that the programme was a response to Eswatini’s pressing youth unemployment crisis. With youth unemployment sitting at around 56% and graduate unemployment at 50.1%, according to recent data, the programme was designed to offer practical, results-driven solutions.
“We graduate between 4,000 to 5,000 young people every year, but less than half are absorbed into the job market,” he said. “The issue of mismatch is well-documented. We keep producing skills that are not aligned with industry demand. So we had to act.”
Funded through a partnership between the UNDP and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the graduate placement component of EYEP sought to bridge the gap between education and employment by placing young graduates into host organizations across sectors for six months.During this time, participants received a monthly stipend of E3,000 to support transport and basic living expenses.
Speaking on behalf of host organizations, Gail Groening from Stefanutti Stocks, a leader in the construction and infrastructure sector, delivered heartfelt appreciation for the programme:
“Hosting these graduates has been an incredibly rewarding experience for us. When we first embarked on this collaboration, we envisioned a partnership that would offer mutual benefits, and I can confidently say our expectations have been far exceeded.”
On behalf of the graduates, Nomfundo Fakudze, a young woman who participated in the programme and is now employed by Mgcabho Construction, which absorbed three graduates in total, explained how this initiative has been transformative to them.
“We learned the language of construction, not just through textbooks, but through on-site training, real-world problem-solving, and collaboration with industry professionals,” Fakudze said. “For many of us, especially the young women in the programme, this was more than a career stepping stone; it was a statement.”
“This was not just about getting young people into offices,” said Thwala. “It was about exposing them to real-world work environments, giving them a foot in the door and a chance to prove themselves.”
Thwala closed his address by urging all stakeholders to actively create opportunities for young people. “It doesn’t have to be your relative or someone you know,” he said. “Just think critically: where can a young person add value in your operation? That small opportunity could change their life.”