Youth entrepreneurship initiatives gain momentum in Eswatia and Lesotho

Youth-focused financial initiatives in Eswatia and Lesotho are driving entrepreneurship as alternatives to formal employment.

In Eswatia, the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) has provided loans to young entrepreneurs to establish small businesses. Felicia Dlamini, founder of Cakes by Felicia, utilized a E15,000 loan to develop her cake-making venture, while Philani Shabangu received E7,000 to support a clothing business sourcing goods from Mozambique. Both entrepreneurs emphasize the importance of using personal skills to generate income due to the difficulty of securing traditional jobs.

In Lesotho, the Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project (CAFI) is supporting growth in the textile, food, and brick-making sectors. During a tour of CAFI-backed businesses, Lesotho’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Motlatsi Maqelepo, urged young people to pursue creative ideas in manufacturing and road construction. Business owners, such as Esther Sekoai of Estigma Gardens and Pavings, noted that CAFI provided essential equipment and improved marketing capabilities within the country.