The Finals: From Ideas to Impact
Wetskills-Eswatini 2026 – Blog 9 – About ten days ago, we were all strangers and we were learning each other’s names, strangers with different backgrounds and from different countries. Quickly,…
Past event
The first 2026 Wetskills: for the first time in Eswatini!
Eswatini stands at a pivotal moment in its water future. Although the country benefits from strong river systems and vital shared basins, communities and utilities increasingly face pressures from climate variability, recurring droughts, population growth, aging infrastructure, and rising demand for safe and reliable water services. Rural areas still struggle with access, while urban centres face challenges linked to leaks, non-revenue water, and the need for more resilient, adaptive water management.
This is the environment and moment for the first-ever Wetskills Eswatini from 22 February to 6 March 2026, with participants working in mixed teams on real-life water cases. The program combines field visits, teamwork, cultural exchange, and the exciting finals event in Mbabane. This Wetskills programme is in close cooperation with the Joint River Basin Authorities – Project Board in Eswatini and the Blue Deal (Eswatini) programme. Follow us in ths event, and be part of shaping the water-smart future of Eswatini and the wider SADC!
Participants and Finals of Wetskills Eswatini 2026
Watch the compilation movie of this event!
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Joining this Wetskills Event – What do you get?
A unique learning experience where you will tackle real-life water challenges with your team!
- You will develop expertise in international cooperation, problem-solving, cross-cultural understanding, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
- You will hone your networking and presentation abilities through pitch and poster sessions
- You will get the opportunity to connect with other international and regional water students/young professionals.
- You will immerse yourself in the city of Mbabane exploring water-related sites in the city and rural areas and engaging with local water professionals.
- You will learn and deepen your understanding of the water sector in Eswatini as part of the SADC region, gaining insights into key stakeholders, organisations, contemporary issues, and existing business opportunities.
- Upon program completion, receive a certificate of participation, officially joining the ranks of over 1550 Wetskills Alumni.
More information
For more information, please contact Ntombikayise Dhladhla (ntombikayise.dhladhla@wetskills.com, especially for Eswatini candidates), Craig Tinashe Tanyanyiwa (craig.tinashe@wetskills.com), or Johan Oost (johan.oost@wetskills.com).
Event Blogs
Eat, sleep, pitch, poster, repeat
Wetskills-Eswatini 2026 – Blog 8 – The past two days revolved around one clear theme: pitching and poster-making. On Tuesday, the groups practiced their pitches for the first time in…
Feedback, Relocation and Field visits
Wetskills-Eswatini 2026 – Blog 7 – Saturday started with Innovation round where groups were temporarily restructured so that members from other groups could form a makeshift group. The task was…
Event Cases
Case 1: Protecting Water Quality in an Industrial Complex
Case owner: CONCO
Industries operating in the Matsapha industrial area are facing problems with poor quality of the surface water that they use, caused by uncontrolled industrial discharges and illegal dumping of waste in the catchment area. Some organizations invest significantly in compliance and water stewardship, but weak enforcement and limited monitoring capacity create uneven performance across the catchment. This shared water challenge presents environmental, operational, and reputational risks that cannot be solved by individual companies alone. This case challenges participants to explore collaborative, practical, and scalable solutions that improve transparency, accountability, and collective action to protect water quality in a complex industrial context.
Pitch & Poster – case 1
Case 2: Institutional Alignment in Water Allocation and Land Use
Case owner: JBRA-Project Board and Water Authority Limburg
Water allocation decisions in Eswatini are affected by fragmented institutional mandates. Land allocation by the Deeds Office, agricultural expansion supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, sand mining permits issued by the Mining Department, and irrigation developments often proceed without synchronized alignment with water availability and abstraction permits. JRBA-PB, operating under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, seeks an innovative coordination mechanism to ensure water resource sustainability while enabling economic development. The challenge of this case is to develop an integrated institutional model that connects land, water, agriculture, and sand mining decisions in a transparent and technically sound manner.
Pich & Poster – case 2 – Winning team!
Case 3: Water Footprint Compensation for Investments in Water-positive projects
Case owner: Water Footprint Implementation, JRBA-Project Board, and Water Authority Vechtstromen
Eswatini faces increasing climate variability, water stress, and ecosystem degradation, while financing for watershed restoration and resilience remains insufficient. The Water Footprint concept provides a science-based method to quantify water use and pollution. To enable verified investment in water-positive projects, the “Water Footprint Compensation” framework was developed by Water Footprint Implementation and Act4Water. This mechanism has yet not been operationalised in Eswatini. The challenge of this case is to explore how Eswatini can creatively apply, adapt, or reimagine water footprint and compensation mechanisms to mobilise finance for stewardship, strengthen resilience, and create measurable basin-level impact.
Pitch & Poster – Case 3
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