BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – Young graduates who previously applied for placement under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP), but have not yet been matched with host institutions, have been urged to log into the programme’s portal and update their profiles as government targets the deployment of 500 graduates in 2026.
The call comes as the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development scales up the programme, which has facilitated the placement of more than 570 graduates across different sectors of the economy since its establishment in 2023.
Young people registered on the EYEP portal have been urged to ensure that their information is complete and up to date.
This includes graduates who applied in previous cycles but were not matched or placed, as updated profiles will provide current information for consideration during the expanded rollout.
According to the ministry’s First Quarter Performance Report, EYEP is targeting the deployment of a total of 500 graduates across public, private and quasi-government institutions during 2026.
As an initial phase of the expanded rollout, 150 graduates will be deployed in the upcoming cycle. Of these, 70 will be placed in the private sector, 30 in government ministries and departments, while 50 will be deployed to parastatals and quasi-government institutions.
The ministry said the distribution was intended to ensure balanced sectoral exposure and alignment with national workforce priorities.
EYEP was launched as a structured response to labour market challenges affecting young people, particularly the transition from academic qualification to employment.
The programme provides graduates with supervised workplace exposure aimed at strengthening professional readiness, technical competence and soft skills while also supporting capacity within host organisations.
Government has described the initiative as more than an internship programme, saying it is intended to develop a competitive and work-ready youth cohort capable of contributing to public service delivery, private sector growth and national development priorities.
The programme was endorsed by Cabinet in August 2022 and subsequently launched by His Majesty King Mswati III in November of the same year.
It operates through two main components, graduate placement and mentorship, as well as artisanal skills training and mentorship.
During its first year of implementation in 2023, EYEP received more than 2 800 applications under the graduate placement programme and matched and deployed 250 graduates between July and November.
The demand for placements reflected the challenge facing young graduates entering the labour market, with the country producing about 4 000 graduates annually while less than half are absorbed into employment opportunities.
Under the graduate placement component, government works with the private sector, government institutions, UN agencies and civil society organisations to match graduates with host institutions, where they receive professional mentorship and coaching.
EYEP also targets out-of-school and non-graduate youth through accelerated artisanal skills training.
By the end of 2023, the programme had trained 360 young people across the country’s four regions, Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo, with 90 artisans trained in each region.
The training covers sewing, upholstery, electrical installation, plumbing, metalwork, building and construction, among other vocational skills.
Participants also receive business development and mentorship training, while graduates are supported with essential tools aimed at helping them pursue self-employment.
With the 2026 placement target now set at 500 graduates, young people who previously registered on the EYEP portal but were not matched have been encouraged to revisit their profiles and update their details to ensure their information is complete and current as the programme prepares for the next phase of deployments.
#EswatiniYouthEmpowermentProgramme #EYEP #YouthEmpowerment #500GraduatePlacements #UpdateYourProfile #YouthEmployment #GraduateOpportunities #SkillsDevelopment #JobCreation #EswatiniJobs #YouthDevelopment #EmpoweringYouth #Eswatini
(Courtesy Pic)
