Amakelech Lulu is no stranger to winning. Founder of Gishen Pharmacy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she won the 2019 Invest2Impact East Africa competition, which included 100 women-led businesses selected based on their potential to achieve growth and contribute to women’s economic empowerment. In July 2022, she also was awarded a…

USAID CATALYZE Private Sector Development Activity (PSD) Assists Small Businesses to Sustain and Grow during COVID-19 and Economic Crisis Tourism was one of the hardest hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic with all parts of its value-chain being negatively impacted. Millions of jobs were at risk, mainly in micro-, small…

Investments in early childhood care and education (ECCE) centers reap broad social and economic dividends, beyond the clear benefit of providing a safe environment for children while their parents are at work. Evidence shows that a child’s earliest years are the most critical period for development. Recent estimates suggest that…

By: Anila Behramaj Albania’s economy is rapidly shifting in favor of foreign investment. The government’s recent steps to shorten the time for a business to be registered from 40 to eight days and its signing of several conventions for protection of investments with most of the European Union countries are…

USAID CATALYZE Private Sector Development Activity Provides COVID-19 Relief Grants to Build Resilience and Adaptability in Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Sri Lanka’s economy and MSMEs especially in the apparel sector. With the increasing number of cases, lockdowns were implemented in most areas as a measure…

Приватни власнички капитал за мала и средња предузећа (МСП) може стимулисати раст и обезбедити додатни извор финансирања и веће марже за МСП, као и побољшати пословне стандарде у компанији. Међутим, доношење одлуке о прихватању приватног власничког капитала за мала и средња предузећа може бити тешко, јер омогућава лицима која до…

USAID CATALYZE PSD Provides Vital Business Advisory Support to Increase MSMEs’ Competitiveness in Sri Lanka The business decision to go digital is no longer a luxury for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). When COVID-19 hit, many MSMEs weren’t prepared to function entirely online. As a result, the world watched…

Ethiopia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) drive economic growth, providing employment opportunities and income security. Until recently, Ethiopia boasted one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Today, the country faces a severe food security crisis as it continues to suffer from the conflict in Tigray, drought, and supply…

by Dragana Todosijevic USAID CATALYZE Engines of Growth (EoG) Equity financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can stimulate growth and provide SMEs with additional cash flow, improved processes, and higher margins. Making the decision to accept private equity, however, can be difficult as it allows outsiders to own a…