BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – After three years of shaping youth policy, influencing development programmes and championing the interests of more than 400 000 young Emaswati, the inaugural EU-Eswatini Youth Advisory Board (YAB) has been hailed for leaving behind a lasting legacy of youth empowerment and advocacy.
Speaking during a farewell function held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Mountain View, Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) Chief Executive Officer Lwazi Mamba praised members of the outgoing Board for their dedication and commitment to ensuring that the voices of young people were heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
Mamba said the Board had become a powerful platform for addressing issues affecting young people, including unemployment, gender-based violence, crime and other social and economic challenges.
“The Board has been a beacon of youth empowerment and advocacy. Through its leadership and commitment, it has helped place youth issues at the centre of important national and international conversations,” he said.
The 15-member Board was inaugurated on May 3, 2023, to serve as an advisory body to the European Union Delegation in Eswatini. Its mandate was to ensure that EU-supported programmes remained responsive to the needs, aspirations and realities of young people.
During its three-year term, the Board recorded several notable achievements across five key thematic areas: climate change, social inclusion, human capital development, employment and entrepreneurship, and public diplomacy.
Among its key milestones was contributing to the launch of the National Youth Development Coordination Framework, aimed at improving coordination of youth programmes across the country. The Board also developed a thematic paper highlighting barriers to youth economic participation, which helped inform an EU-supported International Trade Centre project targeting more than 2 500 rural Emaswati.
In the area of mental health, the Board hosted the Khululeka Mental Health Indaba, bringing together young people to formulate recommendations for national advocacy efforts. It also facilitated climate change engagements that connected young environmental advocates to regional programmes and funding opportunities, including the Youth Empowerment Fund.
The Board further strengthened dialogue between young people and policymakers through its YAB Podcast series, which created a platform for direct engagement with the EU Ambassador to Eswatini. Members also participated in regional knowledge-sharing initiatives, including the Erasmus+ Exchange Programme in Lesotho.
Mamba also acknowledged the European Union for its continued support of youth development initiatives in Eswatini, describing the bloc as a valued partner in creating opportunities for young people.
As one chapter closes, another begins. The European Union opened applications for a new cohort of the Youth Advisory Board in April 2026, paving the way for a new generation of youth leaders to build on the foundation laid by the pioneering team.
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