Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini has called on young people to take advantage of an unutilised E5 million available through the Regional Development Fund (RDF) to establish businesses and income-generating projects.
Speaking during a constituency engagement, Dlamini said the funding remains accessible to youth groups and cooperatives with viable proposals, yet uptake has remained low despite rising unemployment and food insecurity among young people.
He said the RDF was specifically designed to support community-driven development and entrepreneurship, including youth-led initiatives in agriculture, manufacturing, services and small-scale enterprises.
“The money is there. What is needed are structured proposals and organised groups willing to take responsibility for running projects,” Dlamini said.
Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini
The RDF, administered under the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, funds both infrastructure and income-generating projects identified at the community level.
Youth-led ventures qualify for funding under the income-generating category, which includes cooperatives, production groups and small businesses.
According to RDF data, several youth groups across the country have already benefited from funding for projects such as poultry farming, crop production, equipment purchases and small processing operations.
These initiatives have contributed to job creation while providing sustainable income at the community level.
Dlamini said youth unemployment and hunger could be addressed through greater participation in such programmes, noting that funding alone was not sufficient without active engagement from intended beneficiaries.
He encouraged young people to work through recognised community structures and Eswatini Organised Groups to submit applications, adding that technical committees are in place to assist with project appraisal and compliance.
Noteworthy, nationally, the RDF recently received 54 project applications, of which 34 were recommended for funding, with the remaining under appraisal.
A further 12 projects worth E20.4 million were approved by the Regional Development Fund Committees.
“Government continues to position the RDF as a vehicle for youth empowerment, community ownership and inclusive economic growth, with a focus on reducing dependency and promoting self-reliance at the local level,” said Dlamini.
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