Mbabane – The European Union has released a documentary marking 50 years of cooperation with the Kingdom of Eswatini, bringing together the voices of emaSwati whose lives have been shaped by the partnership across education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and community development.
Titled 50 Years of Partnership, the documentary features 50 voices sharing 50 stories that reflect the real impact of five decades of collaboration, not just in numbers but in people.
Through investments in agriculture, infrastructure and clean energy, the EU has helped strengthen livelihoods and build resilient local economies across the kingdom. One voice in the documentary noted that “the EU really tackled the key issues we were facing, which was access to clean energy and access to clean water,” adding that “the symbol of EU in Eswatini is still so strongly visible in communities.” 
In education, the EU has supported learning infrastructure and skills development, helping open doors for thousands of emaSwati learners. The partnership has also extended to academic exchange and youth mobility programmes, giving young emaSwati global exposure and equipping them to return home and shape the country’s future. “Topnotch gratitude to the European Union for opening this window of cooperation between the European Union universities and countries with our African countries,” one beneficiary said. Another added: “Kudos to the European Union for actually showing and leading on what meaningful youth engagement is.”
Small businesses have equally felt the impact. Through capacity building, market access support and mentorship, local enterprises have grown stronger, created jobs and driven innovation. One business owner shared how the EU helped take coffee samples to European countries for cupping and grading. The partnership has also helped position Eswatini within regional and global markets, with local businesses gaining access to the EU Southern African Development EPA, which offers duty-free and quota access to a market of over 450 million people.
The documentary also covers the EU’s support for women and youth, with one contributor saying the initiative “is not only a support, but it is also unlocking the potential of young people, the potential of women to see how much they can go in participating in the social and economic space.”
Healthcare has been another area of significant impact, with the EU helping strengthen health systems, build capacity and improve access to essential services. “We are really grateful to the partnership of the EU and Eswatini because it really had a positive impact on the management of HIV services,” one health worker said in the documentary.
The EU’s support has also reached the most vulnerable, restoring dignity and creating pathways to hope. One contributor recalled the moment EU equipment arrived: “By the time we received the equipment from the EU, we were so much happy. We got opportunities to have games outside the countries.”
Civil society has also benefited, with the partnership amplifying community voices and enabling emaSwati to actively shape their own development. “As we celebrate you, we celebrate the many lives changed, the partnerships that we’ve had, and the impact that we can tangibly feel in our city,” one contributor said.
The EU Ambassador reflected on the milestone, saying: “I think my predecessors and I over the last 50 years, we were humble but very proud about this partnership with stakeholders in the country, with the government, with the people of Eswatini. And I’m sure for the next 50 years we will continue that same path for the best of the country and the world.”
