Digital skills training equips youth and marginalized populations with opportunities to participate in the digital economy, reducing unemployment and poverty. Ultimately, digital investments bridge the digital divide, foster social inclusion, and create resilient, technology-driven economies poised for sustainable development.

Eswatini has partnered with Google to leverage Google’s cutting-edge tools and expertise to advance its ‘Government in Your Hand’ initiative. The collaboration, announced on January 20, under the theme “Innovating Together: Strategic Partnerships for Eswatini’s Digital Transformation and Economic Prosperity” focuses on equipping Eswatini’s youth with essential digital skills to navigate and excel in a tech-driven world.

Minister of ICT, Savannah Maziya, underscored the significance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration symbolizes a shared vision of leveraging innovation to transform Eswatini into a digital hub that competes globally. With 70% of our population being youth, this initiative lays the foundation for creating jobs, fostering entrepreneurship, and accelerating sustainable economic development.”

The Government in Your Hand initiative is a flagship program aimed at digitizing public services, increasing citizen engagement, and improving government efficiency. The partnership will empower the youth with digital skills, enhance public service delivery through advanced technology, and promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

Eswatini's digital readiness is rated as 'systematic,' with a score of 2.6, reflecting steady progress in critical areas of digital transformation, according to the 2024 Digital Readiness Assessment Report developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Efforts are focused on overcoming outdated technology and addressing limited digital skills, particularly within local government. While the country’s strong literacy rate of 89.28% provides a solid foundation for developing digital competencies, significant gaps remain, especially among older populations and rural communities, further compounded by the absence of an ICT-focused education policy.

The initiative will address unemployment, stimulate economic growth, and create a sustainable, innovation-driven ecosystem. Eswatini’s collaboration with Google reflects a growing trend among African nations to prioritize digital transformation as a key driver of economic prosperity and global competitiveness.

Hikmatu Bilali