BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE- Business Eswatini (BE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed on an ambitious private sector–led partnership for 2026 aimed at accelerating job creation, youth empowerment and environmental conservation.
The commitment was reached on January 27, 2026 during a high-level meeting between Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer E. Nathi Dlamini and UNDP Resident Representative His Excellency Henrik Franklin, where the two institutions mapped out a strategic vision to deepen collaboration between the private sector and development partners.
The discussions underscored a shared view that stronger private sector participation is critical to unlocking Eswatini’s economic potential, particularly in addressing unemployment, skills shortages and sustainable growth. BE Head of Trade and Commerce Musa Maseko also contributed economic insights to the talks.
Franklin emphasised that public–private partnerships offer practical solutions to national challenges, noting that the private sector can play a decisive role in creating jobs while supporting conservation of the country’s natural resources.
Environmental sustainability emerged as a key pillar of the partnership. A UNDP–CONCO conservation project along the Lusushwane River, launched at Lozitha in late 2025, was cited as a successful model of balancing industrial activity with environmental protection. Plans are now underway to invite more companies in the Matsapha industrial area to join the initiative, creating a collective approach to nature-based solutions.
Youth development is another major focus of the 2026 agenda. The Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP), which has already supported a number of interns, is set to be expanded significantly. UNDP aims to work with the private sector to host more interns through the Catalyze Eswatini platform, which has a database of over 4,000 young people. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment for young EmaSwati.
Support for small and emerging businesses also featured prominently. The Ingelo Local Certification Scheme, implemented in collaboration with Made in Eswatini, was highlighted as a vital platform for start-ups to access markets. Businesses such as Scoops and Giggles, an ice-cream start-up among 25 firms supported under the Ingelo pilot, were cited as examples of growing grassroots innovation.
Concluding the meeting, Business Eswatini and UNDP expressed optimism about the impact of the partnership, reaffirming their commitment to a sustainable, inclusive alliance aligned with the Government’s Grand Plan. Both organisations said the collaboration is designed to contribute meaningfully to national development priorities in 2026 and beyond.
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(Courtesy Pic)
