Katalyst II: Business Services for Small Enterprises

This project supports a multi-donor initiative that aims to increase income and employment for women and men in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh by promoting the creation and growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The goal of Katalyst is to enhance the enabling environment for SMEs and to improve their competitiveness through a market development approach. This approach entails improving the functioning of input markets and marketing networks enhancing the capacity of business service providers and promoting their linkages with small enterprises and farmers. Katalyst works with local government and SME associations to increase access to finance and capacity-building services and to improve the regulatory environment for SMEs in Bangladesh. Katalyst II is funded by the United Kingdom Switzerland Canada and the Netherlands. The total value of the project is $50.5 million. Canada is contributing $15.2 million to the project and is allocating $300 000 for CIDA-managed advisory services.