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EnglishWhat Is Catalyste+ and What Does the Organization Do?
Updated
Catalyste+ is a Canadian economic development organization, formerly known as CESO-SACO, that has operated since 1967. It partners with businesses, governments, and community organizations in emerging countries and Indigenous communities in Canada, connecting Canadian expertise to local partners through mentorship and advisory services. Its stated goal is to strengthen knowledge and skills for inclusive, sustainable economic growth. If you are looking for a short answer: it is a volunteer-and-advisor-driven development organization, not a grant-maker or a consulting firm you hire commercially.
What Catalyste+ actually does
The core activity is matching experienced Canadian professionals with partner organizations that need specific expertise. These are described as short-term, strategic assignments delivered by Catalyste+ Advisors, who bring an average of about 20 years of industry experience across various sectors and functional disciplines.
The work runs through two broad channels:
- Mentorship and advisory services for partners and clients in the public and private sectors
- Volunteer opportunities for Canadian professionals who want to contribute their expertise
The organization frames its purpose as "Global Mentorship. Local Impact." — meaning the expertise travels, but the outcome is meant to stay local in the form of increased local capacity.
Who it serves
Catalyste+ works with three main types of partners:
| Partner type | Examples from the organization's own reporting |
|---|---|
| Businesses | Growing a business network through mentorship in Vietnam |
| Governments | Improving public service productivity and well-being in Grenada |
| Community organizations | Work with Indigenous communities in Canada |
Geographically, its reach spans emerging countries and Indigenous communities in Canada. The organization states it has supported positive change in more than 120 countries over its 50-plus years of operation.
How it measures its work
Catalyste+ publishes impact figures on its site:
- 1,816 clients and partners
- 4,426 assignments
- 110,650 direct beneficiaries
- 2,150 Catalyste+ Advisors on its roster
The organization notes that success is measured not only by data but by how mentorship and advisory services lead to better lives "long after our work is done" — a capacity-building framing rather than a project-delivery one.
How to engage with Catalyste+
There are two clear entry points depending on who you are:
- If you need expertise: Use the "Request our services" route. Advisors are matched to partners and clients through short-term strategic assignments.
- If you want to volunteer expertise: Join the roster of Catalyste+ Advisors. The organization describes this as supporting others to unlock potential and overcome obstacles.
The site also mentions donation as a way to support the work, and highlights campaigns such as Orange Shirt sales for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, with proceeds going to the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society through an Indigenous-owned clothing company.
What Catalyste+ is not
Based on the organization's own description, a few boundaries are worth noting:
- It is not a commercial consultancy — advisors serve through short-term assignments as part of a development mandate.
- It is not limited to Canada — the model explicitly connects Canadian expertise to global partners.
- It is not solely a volunteer-sending organization — the emphasis is on capacity-building outcomes in partner communities, not on the volunteer experience itself.
If your question is whether Catalyste+ could be relevant to you, the deciding factor is usually whether you are a public- or private-sector organization in an emerging market or Indigenous community needing strategic expertise, or a Canadian professional with deep sector experience willing to serve as an Advisor.