Eswatini and UAE Launch Digital Skills Initiative for Women

Eswatini unveiled a digital skills initiative for African women on Wednesday, attended by senior officials from Eswatini and the UAE. The program will initially train 50 women from government and government-linked institutions, with plans for nationwide expansion.

This partnership is the first between the UAE and an African country, building on discussions between Eswatini’s Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, Savannah Maziya, and UAE leaders, including Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Maziya stated that the initiative positions Eswatini at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation and aligns with global gender equality goals.

The program complements the Digital Eswatini Project and aims to equip 300,000 emaSwati with digital skills, with women making up at least half of the beneficiaries. The UAE’s General Women’s Union, in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority and the Digital Government Academy, will provide training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software development, and IT operations.

This initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly.