Zambian ARTS Publishing House Wins Big at the UNDP Youth-Led MSME Empowerment Program 2025
Zambian ARTS Publishing House is proud to announce that we are among the top winners of the prestigious UNDP Youth-Led MSME Empowerment Program 2025!
The final Pitch Competition was held at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka, where our CEO, Jimmy Kayika, represented the company with passion and innovation. From a highly competitive pool of 175 MSMEs across the country, only five winners emerged victorious—and Zambian ARTS Publishing House proudly stood among them.
The Youth-Led MSME Empowerment Program was launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zambia in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, and implemented by BongoHive. The program aims to boost entrepreneurial capacity, strengthen youth-owned businesses, and prepare them for regional and continental markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Over several months, participating MSMEs went through an intensive process that included:
- Virtual Onboarding Sessions
- In-Person Business Training Workshops
- Virtual Mentorship and Pitch Preparation
- Regional Pitch Competition in Lusaka
The goal was clear: to equip Zambia’s youth entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and networks to grow sustainable businesses that can compete beyond national borders.
The Grand Finale
The climax of the program took place at the InterContinental Hotel, where the top innovators pitched their businesses before a distinguished panel of judges and industry leaders.
In attendance were:
- Hon. Elvis Nkandu, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, who commended the winners for their resilience and creativity.
- UNDP Zambia Resident Representative
- Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts
- Representatives from leading companies, financial institutions, universities, and innovation hubs.
The atmosphere was electric, filled with innovation, passion, and a shared vision for Zambia’s entrepreneurial future.
What This Win Means for Zambian ARTS Publishing House
This milestone reinforces our commitment to empowering writers, transforming the literary landscape, and creating opportunities for African stories to reach global audiences. Through this program, we have gained not only financial support but also strategic mentorship and market linkages that will accelerate our growth and enable us to serve authors better.
We extend our gratitude to UNDP Zambia, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, BongoHive, and all the partners who made this initiative a success.
This victory is not just ours—it belongs to every author, reader, and supporter who believes in the power of African literature. Together, we will continue to publish, inspire, and make an impact!
