Kataza

Designed for

Youth-led businesses, especially young women

Affordable financing and real-time business advisory services for financially excluded and disadvantaged youth-led businesses.

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Overview

What is Kataza?

Kataza supports financially excluded and disadvantaged youth-led businesses in 15 districts in Rwanda, particularly businesses owned by young women in the agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Through affordable financing and real-time business advisory services, the programme helps these businesses grow and create meaningful employment opportunities.

Partners

Our partners

Kataza is delivered by the Development Bank of Rwanda in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

Products

Kataza products

Seasonal Loan: Pay-As-You-Harvest

Working capital for maize farmers across the planting and harvesting cycle, including land lease, seeds, fertilisers, labour costs and pesticides.

The loan is repaid in one lump sum after harvest.
Loan tenor of up to 9 months.
Portfolio guarantee with up to 80% risk coverage.

Kataza Rubyiruko

Flexible financing for a wider range of businesses in the programme's target sectors.

All crops and their value chains are eligible, including farmers, processors, input providers, retailers and wholesalers.
Eligible tourism and hospitality activities include accommodation, event management (MICE), tour operators, arts and crafts, man-made tourist attractions, food and beverages.
Repayment follows a regular schedule designed around the business's cash flow.
Participating financial institutions may access any guarantee scheme available on the market on behalf of their clients.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

Individuals must be 18 to 35 years old. Priority is given to young women, people with disabilities and refugees.
Special Cases (I&M Bank only): Non-youth-owned tourism and hospitality SMEs may qualify when they operate in rural areas, are women-owned, and employ or have business links with young people, especially vulnerable young women.
Groups must have at least five members, with at least 60% aged between 18 and 35.
Cooperatives must operate in Rwanda, hold a valid business licence, demonstrate sufficient cash flow and creditworthiness, be tax compliant, and have board approval to borrow.
Women-owned cooperatives must have at least 60% women members aged 18 to 35; men-owned cooperatives must have at least 60% young men aged 18 to 35.
For an MSME, at least 60% of company shares must be owned by women or men aged 18 to 35, according to the business's ownership designation.