BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZUWLINI – For the first time in Eswatini, the Wetskills Water Challenge was hosted by the Joint River Basin Authorities – Project Board, with support from partners including INMACOM.
This milestone event marked a significant step in fostering innovation and collaboration in the water sector. The Wetskills programme is a two-week, high intensity “pressure-cooker” designed for students and young professionals with a passion for water. Participants are challenged to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to real world water issues. Beyond technical problem solving, the programme cultivates cooperation, networking, and knowledge exchange, expanding participants’ international networks and exposing them to diverse perspectives.
This year’s challenge brought together 14 young professionals from diverse countries, who worked in multicultural, transdisciplinary teams from 22 February to 6 March 2026. Over two weeks, they collaborated intensively to design bold, out of the box solutions aimed at strengthening sustainable water governance and addressing challenges across shared river systems.
As part of its commitment to nurturing future leaders in water management, INMACOM awarded and sponsored the participation of young professionals under the INMACOM GEF-8 Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The initiative was implemented in partnership with UNDP Eswatini and the Global Water Partnership (GWP-SA).
Through this sponsorship, INMACOM reaffirmed its role as custodian of the Incomati and Maputo river basins, ensuring coordinated management and long-term stewardship of these vital shared resources. By investing in young professionals, INMACOM is not only supporting innovation today but also building the foundation for sustainable water governance in the future.
#INMACOM #WetskillsProgramme #UNDPEswatini #Eswatini
