Key EduFinance stakeholders convened through a series of engagements to capture and analyze learning and results on blended finance in the education sector How do we effectively design and implement blended finance models to support broader education strategies across sub-Saharan Africa? This has been the underlying question guiding recent learning…

In 2017, after working for multinational companies for 18 years, Jenny Salazar took the leap from corporate employee to entrepreneur, drawing on her personal savings to open the restaurant Olor de Mar, which translates to “scent of the sea.” The restaurant, located on a beach in La Libertad, El Salvador…

In June 2023, the USAID CATALYZE Women Building Resilience (WBR) Activity brought together more than 60 industry stakeholders, including financial institutions, fintechs, anchor firms, business associations, and women-owned micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (W-MSMEs), at the Unlocking Economic Opportunities for Salvadorean Women through Finance and Investment: An Industry Summit in…

In the ever-changing landscape of global development, CATALYZE’s flexible project design, robust partnerships, and steadfast commitment to long-term impact has helped USAID address multifaceted challenges, including food crises, conflicts, and economic downturns across various regions. Using financial instruments, such as guarantees, insurance, capital injections, and debt restructuring, USAID CATALYZE has…

CATALYZE: Background USAID CATALYZE (2019–2027), implemented by Palladium, is a $250 million contract designed to mobilize $2 billion in private capital towards underserved sectors, geographies, and populations. The CATALYZE Education portfolio demonstrates commitments by USAID and Palladium to test creative blended finance solutions across different education sectors, models of intervention…

For learners in remote areas of Zambia, accessing high-quality education is more than just a physical barrier. In the country’s northern region, only 67% of students go on to attend high school as a result of geographic disparities. But even for those who do, their educational prospects are limited. Data…

Workforce Development Approximately 3.4 billion people are engaged in the global workforce, shaping economies and communities. Yet in low-income countries, according to the International Labor Organization, an estimated 70 percent of the workforce lack the skills and education needed for their jobs. Workforce development promotes economic growth and fosters inclusivity. …

As we navigate the long-term economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, improved social protection systems are vital to addressing food insecurity, poverty, and gender inequality. According to the World Bank, “Social protection systems help individuals and families, especially the poor and vulnerable, cope with crises and shocks, find…

ECD business owners participate in an accelerator training in South Africa / Credit: Grow ECD In South Africa, over 98 percent of children aged seven to 14 are enrolled in school. Despite this achievement, enrollment remains tirelessly low in the early childhood development (ECD) sector, with only 40% of children…