MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has launched the National Youth Development Coordination Framework, describing it as a decisive move to improve the way youth programmes are managed and aligned across the country.
The framework was unveiled as part of Government’s broader efforts to strengthen investment in young people and improve how institutions engage, support and empower the youth. It seeks to address gaps in coordination among ministries, community structures, the private sector and civil society organisations working in the youth development space.
Speaking at the launch, the Prime Minister said youth development remains central to Government’s national agenda, noting that more than three quarters of Eswatini’s population is under the age of 35. 
“Youth development lies at the very core of our national agenda, for over three-quarters of our citizenry are under the age of thirty-five. This reality presents both a boundless opportunity and a weighty obligation. If guided wisely, the vigor and ingenuity of Eswatini’s youth shall become the engine of innovation, economic vitality, and social change; if neglected, it risks fomenting unemployment, alienation, and the squandering of our collective potential,” he said.
Dlamini pointed to the country’s high youth unemployment rate, which stands at over 49 percent, while 36 percent of young people fall under the category of Not in Education, Employment, or Training. He said the figures call for urgent and coordinated intervention.
“We recognise that the youth of Eswatini represent a veritable demographic dividend, endowed with the capacity to usher in transformative socio-economic progress. Yet, this promise is not fully realised. Current evidence such as a youth unemployment rate surpassing forty-nine percent, and thirty-six percent categorised as Not in Education, Employment, or Training compels us to redouble our efforts,” he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that although numerous programmes and policies exist, their implementation has been affected by fragmentation across institutions and regions.
“Notwithstanding the breadth of programs and policies, their implementation has regrettably been marred by fragmentation and discord across institutions, sectors, and regions. Numerous actors ranging from government ministries to community entities, private sector participants, and civil society organisations have endeavoured in isolation,” he said.
Government initiatives aimed at youth empowerment include the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Project, the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund and the Eswatini Youth Employment Opportunities Project. The Eswatini National Youth Council also continues to play a role in coordination and advocacy for youth development.
Addressing young people directly, Dlamini said the success of the new framework will be measured by tangible results rather than paperwork.
“To the youth of Eswatini, I say: the Government labours to create systems, opportunities, and supports. The birth of this framework stands as a testament to such efforts. Yet, its success shall not be measured in meetings convened or reports compiled, but in the number of enterprises established by youth, skills acquired, jobs generated, innovations produced, and communities transformed by your ingenuity and toil.”
