Ye! Impact Story Series: Gilbert Mwale — Guiding the Next Generation of Green Entrepreneurs
When the Ye! Community hosted an entrepreneurship competition in Zambia back in 2017, Gilbert Mwale stood among the hopefuls, pitching his venture for the very first time. He had just launched E-Msika Service Ltd, a digital platform connecting smallholder farmers to farm inputs, consultations, and agricultural knowledge. That pitch turned out to be more than a win. It was the beginning of a long and evolving relationship with the Ye! Community, one that would eventually position Gilbert not only as an entrepreneur but as a mentor, advisor, and builder of the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa.
Today, Gilbert is a Ye! Advisor (Zambia), a role rooted in empowerment, connection, and impact. Through this position, he has helped shape local chapters, build youth networks, and mentor early-stage ecopreneurs navigating the challenges of building green ventures.
From Participant to Pillar
Gilbert’s journey with Ye! began with personal growth. His early exposure to the program brought him face-to-face with international networks, tailored training, and the kind of mentorship many young entrepreneurs rarely access. He joined incubators like BongoHive, participated in regional forums, and travelled across the continent to speak, learn, and connect.
But as his experience deepened, so did his commitment to giving back. As one of the first Ye! Advisors in Zambia, using his knowledge and presence in the academic space to connect with young people and introduce them to the platform. His dual role as a university lecturer helped him reach dozens of emerging entrepreneurs and show them how programs like the Youth Ecopreneur Programme could unlock their potential. As an advisor, he worked closely with the Ye! Community and ITC’s Youth and Trade team to ensure the program remained responsive to the real challenges faced by youth on the ground.
What Makes the Advisor Role Unique
Ye! Advisors aren’t just mentors, they’re builders. They help grow local entrepreneurial ecosystems, act as a direct link between the ITC and their communities, and represent the voice of youth in policy spaces.
For Gilbert, the advisor role opened doors to policy discussions around agritech, e-governance, and regional trade. He contributed to conversations on Africa Free Trade, helped advocate for the inclusion of youth in e-government systems, and provided feedback on how to make entrepreneurship programs more effective and inclusive.
At the same time, he continued supporting entrepreneurs in very practical ways. Through mentorship sessions, entrepreneurship connect events, and informal gatherings, he created space for young people to learn from one another. He knows firsthand how essential exposure is in the early stages of an entrepreneur’s journey. “You get to see the highs and lows of other entrepreneurs, how they manoeuvred around challenges and how they overcame them,” he reflects.
A Platform That Evolves With You
One of the key strengths of the Youth Ecopreneur Programme is its adaptability. As Gilbert puts it, “Entrepreneurship is a journey, and each point in the journey requires different needs.”
For some, it’s about validation and testing ideas. For others, it's about creating structure, developing strategic plans, and preparing for investment. The program meets young people where they are, offering capacity-building masterclasses, one-on-one coaching, access to legal and IP support, and, most importantly, a community that grows with you.
From startup ideation to scaling for impact, Ye! offers a framework that doesn’t box entrepreneurs in. Instead, it provides the space and resources they need to define their own path.
A Community That Stays With You
While technical support is vital, Gilbert often speaks about the emotional and relational value of Ye!. Over the years, he has formed bonds that extend beyond mentorship, relationships that turned into friendships, and even chosen family.
Reflecting on a dinner with fellow entrepreneurs in 2018, he remembers how simply sitting together, talking openly, and sharing meals helped break down barriers. “That is community,” he says. “That is family. If you have people you can count on, you can go further.”
And for Gilbert, that community has now stretched across borders—from Kenya to Rwanda, from Egypt to Italy—creating a powerful pan-African (and global) network of changemakers.
Advice for Future Ecopreneurs
For those considering joining the Ye! Community or applying to the Youth Ecopreneur Programme, Gilbert offers one piece of advice: be intentional.
“This program is wide. It provides so many opportunities. So before you join, ask yourself: What do I need? What am I looking for?” When you step in with a purpose, the platform helps you find your way.
He added, “You can never underestimate the good things that come with exposure; it helps you dream bigger, it helps you see things differently and gives you hope of what you can potentially create and become as a young person”
Whether you're just starting out or figuring out how to scale, the Youth Ecopreneur Programme offers more than training and funding. It offers a journey. And thanks to dedicated advisors like Gilbert Mwale, it also offers a guiding hand along the way.
This story has been compiled and written by Toaa Sultan (UN Volunteer June 2025) as part of an effort to highlight the inspiring journeys of youth within the YE! Community. Based on a personal conversation and interview with Gilbert, the narrative reflects his unique experiences, challenges, and the impact he has created as a young changemaker.