Eswatini Artisans Get a Leather Up with New Tanning Skills Training

Eswatini artisans are boosting their leatherworking skills thanks to a collaborative training program focused on vegetable tanning, aimed at enhancing local craftsmanship and economic opportunities. The International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, is spearheading the initiative as part of the Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP), which seeks to strengthen the beef and goat production sectors.

The training, organized in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), began on February 10, 2025, at the Eswatini Co-operative Development College (ECODEC). It brings together 24 participants, representing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), artisan institutions, and the public sector.

The program’s objective is to equip artisans with the technical know-how for vegetable leather tanning, particularly at the household and community levels. Participants will learn cottage tanning techniques, understand quality standards, evaluate hides and skins, and adapt tanning technologies suitable for small-scale operations. The initiative highlights a commitment to strengthening Eswatini’s leather value chain and promoting competitive, value-added production.