There are catalytic leaders in every community we work in. They are people who inspire growth within themselves, their business, and their communities. These leaders create lasting change and inspire others to follow their path.  

We have found common attributes in these catalytic leaders:  

Courage, embracing learning and growth even in uncertainty; Optimism, with a steadfast belief in a brighter future for all; Kinship, a deep understanding of community needs and the ability to collaborate and inspire others; Accountability, ensuring that business is conducted with transparency and integrity.  

Our aim is to identify and nurture catalytic leaders. Through our programs, staff, and community engagement efforts, we are focused on increasing locally driven sustainable businesses. Our Business Leader Development Program equips local leaders with essential business skills, building entrepreneurial networks and fostering financial literacy through savings groups and secure digital tools. We also support cooperatives, enabling individuals to start and operate shared businesses.  

Our program launched in 2020 and had 300 participants graduate within its first two years. In 2023, we worked with monitor and evaluation experts for an external assessment of the program’s outcomes. The evaluation helped us redesign our Business Leader Development Program to maximize impact.  Our new curriculum launched in 2024 and is structured in two phases: Level 1 focuses on building foundational business skills and savings, while Level 2 is tailored for leaders ready to scale their businesses.  

Our redesign ensures participants not only gain the knowledge they need but also connects them with tools to drive significant change within their communities. To date, we have trained 1,047 Catalytic Leaders in Rwanda.