Across Africa, two interconnected crises persist: rampant youth unemployment and widespread environmental degradation. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, but formal job creation lags far behind demand. In sub-Saharan Africa, youth unemployment rates remain stubbornly high, with recent ILO projections showing persistent challenges through 2025. In Eswatini, where the pilot launches, youth unemployment stands at around 58% for those aged 15-35, one of the highest rates regionally, with young women facing even steeper barriers (e.g., 52.4% unemployment compared to 45% for men).
Meanwhile, Africa faces severe land degradation, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing rapid increases rising from about 6.7% to 14.63% of land degraded between 2015 and 2019 alone and ongoing trends showing faster-than-global-average deterioration in many regions. These issues threaten livelihoods, agriculture, and food security.
Shared Futures sees these not as separate problems but as symptoms of the same broken system and the green economy as a unified solution.
“Youth unemployment and environmental degradation are not separate crises. They are symptoms of the same broken system and the green economy gives us a chance to repair both at once,” says Sifiso Ndwandwe, Executive Director of Shared Futures.
The green economy offers massive potential: recent forecasts suggest Africa could create up to 3.3 million new direct green jobs by 2030, with the majority in renewable energy (especially solar, potentially 1.7 million jobs) and sectors like sustainable agriculture. Longer-term expert projections point to as many as 100 million green jobs by 2050.
Real change requires more than short-term grants. That’s why Shared Futures is launching an innovative 2026 pilot in Eswatini, where we will also be learning and testing the potential of youth enterprises being backed by local Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
The pilot begins with an intensive Bootcamp for 15 young entrepreneurs, transforming ideas into investor-ready plans. Training will focus on sustainable business practices, circular economy principles, and ethical supply chains.
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) partners closely to deliver knowledge, mentorship, and academic guidance for lasting skills and business readiness.
“The 2026 pilot is small by design, but its ambitions are large: proving that ethical, community-backed green businesses can solve pressing social and environmental challenges while creating livelihoods for Africa’s youth,” Ndwandwe adds.
📩 Are you a young entrepreneur in Eswatini working in the green economy? Apply to join the 2026 pilot: info@sharedfutures.africa
📩 Interested in supporting via mentorship, funding, or research? Contact: info@sharedfutures.africa
This community-driven initiative harnesses Africa’s youth and natural resources to build a more equitable, sustainable future. For more on Shared Futures, visit sharedfutures.africa.
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