KATAZA Program
240 Growth Guides.
Thousands of businesses.
One pathway to growth.
Enabling financially excluded and disadvantaged youth, especially young women, refugees, and Persons with disability to access affordable finance and grow successful businesses in Agriculture and Tourism & Hospitality.
240
Growth Guides Trained
90,000
MSMEs to be reached
16
Districts across Rwanda
Role of AMI and Growth Guides
As part of the KATAZA program consortium, AMI leads the business development and capacity-building component of the program, designing and delivering a tailored learning journey that equips 240 community-based Growth Guides with the knowledge, tools and practical methodologies required to effectively support and train 90,000 MSMEs at grassroots level and at scale, with a particular focus on youth (18-35 years), young women, refugees and persons with disabilities. Recruited, trained and deployed across 16 districts, the Growth Guides serve as the program’s frontline business support network, working directly with MSMEs to assess their business needs, identify skills gaps, deliver practical business and financial literacy training, strengthen their operations and growth strategies, and prepare them for and facilitate their access to finance.
Business Development Support
Growth Guides diagnose MSMEs and assess their business needs, identify skills gaps, deliver practical business and financial literacy training, strengthen their business operations and growth strategies, and prepare MSMEs for and facilitate their access to appropriate financing.
Financial Literacy Training
Access to Finance Readiness – Growth Guides equip MSMEs with practical business knowledge and skills to better understand and manage their finances, make informed financial decisions, and strengthen their financial management and business operations, while facilitating linkages with relevant financial institutions and financing opportunities.
Digital and In-person Support
Linkage to Financial Institutions – Support MSMEs to apply for affordable loans and facilitate linkages with relevant financial service providers, including SACCOs and microfinance institutions.
Business Development Support
Assist MSMEs in strengthening their operations and growth strategies.
Financial Literacy Training
Educate entrepreneurs on financial management and access to financial products.
Market Linkages
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Digital and In-Person Support
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Business Development Support
Assist MSMEs in strengthening their operations and growth strategies.
Financial Literacy Training
Educate entrepreneurs on financial management and access to financial products.
Market Linkages
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Digital and In-Person Support
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Business Development Support
Assist MSMEs in strengthening their operations and growth strategies.
Financial Literacy Training
Educate entrepreneurs on financial management and access to financial products.
Market Linkages
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Digital and In-Person Support
Connect MSMEs with financial institutions, suppliers, and new market opportunities.
Meet our Growth Guides
Northern Province
Southern Province
Eastern Province
Eastern Province
Impact, district by district.
Explore KATAZA’s reach across the districts where the program is being implemented. Select a district to see the number of active Growth Guides and the MSMEs they are supporting to date. The target is to identify, diagnose and train 90,000 MSMEs of 80% are young women and 5% are persons with disabilities and 5% are refugees.
District selected
Kirehe District
19
Active Growth Guides
3,354
Diagnosed and Trained
An eastern district bordering Tanzania and Burundi, characterised by warm, relatively dry landscapes, valleys and wetlands.
Their Stories. Their Businesses. Their Journeys.
Meet the Growth Guides and MSMEs who are building businesses, overcoming challenges and pursuing new opportunities through KATAZA. Explore their stories by district and discover the people behind the program's progress.
A consortium partnering with
What KATAZA means to young people
Supporting young entrepreneurs move from invisible and grow
KATAZA program works with young entrepreneurs and small businesses that face barriers to finance, skills and opportunities to grow.
Through community-based Growth Guides and consortium partners, the program brings practical support closer to entrepreneurs helping them strengthen their businesses, become ready for finance, connect to appropriate financial services and create better work opportunities.
Who we work with
Young entrepreneurs (18-35 years) and MSME owners, particularly young women and other financially excluded and disadvantaged groups such as Persons with disability and Refugees.
Where we work
Across 16 districts, with a focus on Agriculture, Tourism and Hospitality.
How we support them
Growth Guides work directly with entrepreneurs in their communities understanding their businesses, identifying their needs and providing practical business and financial guidance.
What we are working towards
Businesses that are stronger, more resilient and better positioned to access affordable finance, grow and create dignified and fulfilling work.
Behind KATAZA is a consortium of organisations working together to make this possible, led by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), with AMI, AMIR, MVend, RWAMREC and I&M Bank, with support from the Mastercard Foundation.
Get Involved
The KATAZA Program is dedicated to supporting a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rwanda. If you are an entrepreneur, financial institution, or organization looking to collaborate, contact us to learn how you can be part of this transformative initiative.
