CABEI, the European Union, and the Government of Germany strengthen business incubator capacities at the Alberto Masferrer University in El Salvador

Article originally published on CABEI's website on 05/06/2025. The European Union through LACIF contributes to the DINAMICA II Initiative through an investment grant and technical assistance.

Thanks to the DINAMICA II Initiative, the Center for Academic Training and Business Development (CEFADE) at USAM will strengthen its support for entrepreneurship and startups.

With the aim promote the entrepreneurial ecosystem in El Salvador, within the framework of the DINÁMICA II Initiative of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Government of Germany, through KfW and the European Union, has subscribed a Non-Refundable Technical Assistance agreement to strengthen the capacities, products, and services of the Academic Training and Business Development Center (CEFADE) of the Alberto Masferrer University of El Salvador (USAM), for a total of US$55,000.

With the funds received, CEFADE at USAM will develop an incubator and accelerator model that will provide specialized support to dynamic entrepreneurial initiatives through innovation. Additionally, a management tool will be developed and implemented to facilitate the control and monitoring of projects generated by the acceleration/incubation model, enabling the evaluation of their effectiveness, efficiency, and social impact.

CEFADE's goal is to become an accelerator and incubator that promotes dynamic and innovative entrepreneurship and startups, supporting the creation and consolidation of new companies. This goal aligns with the objectives of the DINAMICA II Initiative, which aims to promote and strengthen the development of the business ecosystem and the private sector, particularly for new, young, and innovative micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The agreement for Non-Refundable Technical Assistance was signed by CABEI Country Manager in El Salvador, Raúl Castaneda, Head of Cooperation of the European Union in El Salvador, Ana Coimbra, KfW's local representative for El Salvador, Liliana Monteiro, and USAM's legal representative, Daysi Marquina de Gómez.

To date, the DINAMICA II Initiative in El Salvador has supported MSMEs with more than US$14 million in loans; more than 103 micro and small enterprises have been strengthened with non-refundable resources from Small Grants; and more than US$6 million has been allocated in technical assistance to enhance Business Development Centers and MSMEs, as well as seed capital allocated to 259 innovative ventures and MSMEs through the Special Window of El Salvador.