Design dividend: What Kazakhstan teaches us about SME finance Claudia RuizMartin Melecky April 23, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/developmenttalk/design-dividend--what-kazakhstan-teaches-us-about-sme-finance Governments around the world spend billions of dollars each year to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access finance. The goal is clear: more credit should allow firms to grow, hire more workers, and contribute to economic diversification. But do these programs actually work? And does the way they are designed matter? © 2026 The World Bank Group,