Through the successful collaboration of the Government, UNDP, and ENPF young emaSwati are gaining invaluable work exposure and career purpose, ensuring a skilled, motivated generation leads the country’s socio-economic future.
When Siyabonga Ngqotheni walked into the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) headquarters in Manzini for his first day as a marketing intern, he carried more than a degree; he carried the hopes and dreams of a generation.
“For so long, a degree felt like a lottery ticket that had already expired,” he says, recalling the uncertainty that grips thousands of young graduates in Eswatini.
“The work experience catch-22 is real. You cannot get a job without work experience, and you cannot get work experience without a job. This situation is suffocating. Then came Lidlelantfongeni to my rescue, and gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience,” says Siyabonga.
The ENPF is also known as Lidlelantfongeni (a fund for all workers), and it was established in 1974 to provide a compulsory retirement savings scheme for employed persons, ensuring they receive a benefit when they retire from regular employment in old age or become incapacitated.
Siyabonga is one of eight ambitious young professionals hosted by ENPF through the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP), a strategic collaboration between the Government of Eswatini and the United Nations Development Programme.
This group of talented young professionals represents the second cohort of EYEP interns to be hosted by Lidlelantfongeni.
The EYEP was officially launched by His Majesty King Mswati III in November 2022. Designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, EYEP places qualified but unemployed graduates into six-month paid placements, giving them hands-on experience, mentorship, and professional grounding.
EYEP is a direct, bold response to a national crisis. Eswatini faces a staggering challenge where youth unemployment (ages 15–35) is currently sitting at approximately 58%, one of the highest in the region. Every year, thousands of brilliant graduates are produced by local and international universities only to meet a job market that cannot absorb them. This endemic lack of opportunity stunts economic growth and erodes national potential.
For ENPF, participation in EYEP is not corporate charity, it is nation-building in action.
“Our commitment to the EYEP is a strategic investment in our country’s future; we are not merely filling internships, we are actively cultivating the next generation of leaders in the various sectors of the economy, innovators, and contributors who will ensure the enduring stability and prosperity of Lidlelantfongeni and the entire nation,” says ENPF CEO Futhi Tembe.
“The true measure of our success is that these graduates find meaningful employment, and we are proud to be part of the solution. The talent pipeline is so exceptional that many graduates are swiftly absorbed by host companies or even hired directly by ENPF if a vacancy arises, sometimes not even finishing the programme because they have already secured their careers.”
“We are not just training; we are unleashing the skilled workforce that will drive this country forward.”
The success of the EYEP at the ENPF offers a clear blueprint for public-private sector collaboration across Eswatini. By opening their doors and providing robust mentorship, institutions like Lidlelantfongeni are not just filling temporary employment gaps; they are investing in the very stability of the nation.
The EYEP’s impact is multifold. It immediately reduces the high cost of living anxiety for the youth, it provides accredited experience that significantly improves their marketability, and, crucially, it builds a sense of self-worth and purpose often lost to long-term unemployment. The ENPF is proving that the biggest challenge facing Eswatini’s future, youth unemployment, can be tackled through concrete, high-impact partnerships that benefit both the organisation and the country.
ENPF Investing in the Future of Eswatini
At its core, Lidlelantfongeni) is a national trust built on the values of stability, safety, and shared prosperity. Yet its leadership understands that social security is not only about financial safety nets; it is also about empowering the next generation to sustain that very system.
“As our CEO has indicated, our mandate is to secure the financial future of emaSwati, and that begins with empowering the youth of today. The psychological toll on a brilliant graduate who is forced to stay at home, without a job or opportunities to gain experience, is immense. It chips away at their confidence and can lead to a mental health crisis,” says Muzi Mngometulu, Human Resources Manager.
“Our graduate programme is the powerful antidote to that feeling of helplessness. Through the experience and mentorship gained at ENPF, these young professionals radically believe in themselves, improve their skills, and gain the confidence to compete anywhere.”
“This tangible success has a profound, positive impact on their families and entire community, proving that the right opportunity is all it takes to transform a life,” Mngometulu added.
“Through EYEP, we gain access to a pipeline of capable, innovative graduates who bring fresh perspectives to our operations, from finance and procurement, property, marketing, the service centre, and ICT. They learn from us, and we learn from them. It’s a win-win partnership that strengthens the national workforce.”
ENPF’s participation in EYEP aligns perfectly with its broader vision of inclusive national development, complementing the Fund’s growing portfolio in sectors such as health, infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology; all key drivers of job creation.
Building Skills, Confidence, and Purpose
The interns placed under ENPF are far more than temporary staff; they are architects of tomorrow. From business management to social sciences, psychology to ICT, these young professionals are gaining the technical grounding and emotional intelligence needed to thrive in the modern workplace.
Each has a unique story and describes the experience with words like transformative, hands-on and a rediscovery of purpose after a period of unemployment. Collectively, their voices echo the same sentiment, gratitude for an opportunity to work, learn, and grow in an institution that values their contribution.
A Brand That Cares Beyond Numbers
For ENPF, this is more than a corporate social responsibility project; it is an expression of the Fund’s philosophy of ‘Building a Secure Eswatini.’ By equipping graduates with skills and experience, ENPF is contributing directly to the country’s socio-economic transformation.
“Every graduate who passes through our doors represents a seed of national potential,” says Mngometulu.
“We’re not just managing human resources; we’re cultivating leaders and innovators. This is how we future-proof Eswatini, through knowledge, opportunity, and trust.”
This partnership underscores ENPF’s identity as a brand that cares, one that does not merely collect savings but reinvests them in people and progress.
( Courtesy Pic)
