26 May 2026

The Institute of Development Management (IDM) in Eswatini is writing a new chapter. And like any meaningful transition, the story is not just about structures or policies; it is about people.

Last week, a group of IDM staff gathered for a training session on Collective Bargaining and Negotiation Skills, facilitated by Business Eswatini (BE). On the surface, it was a standard capacity-building workshop. But for those watching closely, it was a clear signal that IDM is serious about transforming itself into a centre of excellence; starting from within.

This training comes at a pivotal time. As of last year, IDM Eswatini became an independent institution, having originally been established in 1974 as BOLESWA with campuses in Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Today, under the leadership of an interim Director, Mr. Karabo Baipidi from Botswana, the institution is embracing its autonomy with intention.

“IDM is committed to ensuring that students are at the heart of this transformation,” said Mr. Baipidi in a recent meeting with Business Eswatini. “We are focused on an employability strategy for our students, establishing an alumni chapter and facilitating a volunteer chapter to expose students to industry, help them gain work experience and thus enhance their employability.”

These are not just aspirations. They require a workplace that is functional, fair and forward-looking. And that is precisely why IDM turned to its membership with Business Eswatini.

The training objectives identified by IDM staff reflected the real-world pressures facing a transitioning institution. Participants sought clarity on:

• The basic principles and best practices of collective bargaining
• The entire negotiation process and what the law requires
• The expectations of both employers and employees during negotiations
• The role of trade unions and shop stewards
• How to negotiate fairly when resources are constrained
• The responsibilities of a chief negotiator
• Agency shop agreements and payment ratios
• Recognition and de-recognition processes for workplace formations
• Different types of conflict management and obstacles to effective negotiations
• The traits of a good negotiator

These are practical concerns. And they require practical, world-class solutions.

IDM is a member of Business Eswatini, the Apex Employer-Based Organization in the country. Through this affiliation, they accessed training packages that meet international standards, approved by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Collective Bargaining and Negotiation Skills course is one of several offerings designed to help employers build stable, productive, and legally sound workplaces. Other available trainings include:

• The Grievance, Discipline & Handling of Fair Appeals
• The Violence and Harassment in the Workplace
• And other tailored programmes for member organizations

What makes this partnership noteworthy is not simply the training itself, but what it represents. IDM is not waiting for its transition to be smooth before investing in its people. They are equipping their staff now; so that the institution can deliver on its promise to students, industry, and the wider community.

IDM has also introduced an Internationalization Policy to support international students at local institutions; another sign that this campus is thinking beyond borders. But policy alone does not build excellence. It takes skilled staff to implement vision, manage conflict, negotiate resources, and create a vibrant, healthy, and safe work environment.

By capacitating their team through Business Eswatini, IDM is demonstrating that higher education institutions can hold themselves to a high standard; not only in the classroom, but in how they manage their people and partnerships.

For other employers in Eswatini, the lesson is straightforward. Affiliation with Business Eswatini is an investment in practical, ILO-grounded resources that help organizations navigate change without losing sight of fairness or functionality.

As IDM Eswatini moves forward as an independent campus, with a growing focus on student employability, alumni engagement and industry exposure through volunteer chapters, the groundwork is being laid. The training provided by Business Eswatini is a small but significant piece of a larger puzzle.

Mr. Baipidi’s vision is bright. But a vision becomes reality only when the people carrying it have the right tools. Through this partnership, IDM is proving that transformation is not just about where you are going – it is about who you prepare along the way.