MBABANE – The Chevening Alumni Eswatini Association has launched a youth mentorship initiative aimed at tackling the country’s growing skills gap.
The programme, launched yesterday at a ceremony attended by the British High Commissioner to Eswatini, Colin Wells, and a representative from the Ministry of ICT on behalf of Minister Savannah Maziya, is themed “Empowering Growth Through Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing Amongst the Youth in Eswatini.”
The initiative comes as the country faces rising concern over a mismatch between available skills and labour market demands, a gap identified in the 2022 National Skills Audit and the 2025 Labour Market Skills Anticipation Report.
Representing Minister Maziya, the ministry’s spokesperson pointed to the urgent need to reskill the next generation, referencing global projections that over 1 billion jobs will require new skills by 2030. She said the ministry’s Government in Your Hand programme is already building partnerships with institutions to give young people access to globally accredited certifications.
Eswatini is also seeking to strengthen international partnerships in the digital space, including with countries such as the United Arab Emirates. According to the ministry, these efforts are designed to ensure emaSwati youth are equipped for global competitiveness.
The ICT Minister’s own mentorship projects were also cited at the event. Her STEM Future Pioneers Programme mentors 300 girls each quarter, while the Space for Girls project, run in partnership with the Government of India, has introduced 108 emaSwati girls to careers in artificial intelligence, robotics, and space science.
British High Commissioner Colin Wells welcomed the initiative, noting that the skills mismatch is a real obstacle to the country’s economic growth. He said it will take a coordinated effort to modernise Eswatini’s economy and that the UK is committed to supporting this agenda.
A representative of the Chevening Alumni Association said the mentorship programme is designed as a collaborative solution, calling on government, the private sector, and civil society to work together. The association intends to use its network and expertise to help young emaSwati access and create new opportunities.
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