The present invention relates to compositions containing a combination of a first active component comprising one or more sulfated polysaccharides and/or glycosaminoglycans and a second active component comprising one or more RNAi-inducing molecules, and methods for using these compositions to enhance double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated gene silencing in pest or pathogen species. The invention further relates to methods for controlling pests or pathogens, methods for preventing pest infestations or pathogen infections and methods for knocking down gene expression in pests or pathogens using the compositions and methods of the invention.