JOB DESCRIPTION – BUSINESS COACH

About BOMA

BOMA is a non-profit organization founded in 2006, committed to ending extreme poverty in Africa’s drylands. Through its adaptive economic inclusion model—the Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP)—BOMA economically empowers women, youth, and refugees by providing skills, resources, and market linkages that support sustainable livelihoods.

To date, BOMA has transformed the lives of over 1 million people across last-mile communities, using tech-enabled, data-driven, and participant-centered approaches that ensure measurable and scalable impact.

Project Overview

BOMA is implementing a 5-year initiative, Creating Shared Value with Young People in the Livestock Sector (CASHA) Project, aimed at transforming the livelihoods of 300,000 youth and women across 15 Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties. The project unlocks economic opportunities in livestock and agri-related value chains by equipping young people with relevant skills, knowledge, and resources to:

• Build viable enterprises
• Access dignified employment
• Participate meaningfully in value chains
• Adopt climate-smart livestock and agricultural practices

Implementation will also include refugee communities in Kakuma and Dadaab.

North Eastern: Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, Kitui
Upper Eastern: Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Laikipia
Lower Eastern: Kajiado, Makueni, Taita Taveta
North Rift: Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo

The CASHA project aims to address systemic challenges including gender inequality, weak market systems, limited access to finance, and climate vulnerability through capacity building, market linkages, financial inclusion, and an innovative Challenge Fund mechanism.

Job Summary

The Business Coach will support young women and men engaged in livestock and agri-related value chains by providing enterprise training, coaching, mentorship, and market linkages using the REAP Graduation Model and Market Systems Development (MSD) approach.

This role is field-based, requiring strong technical knowledge in livestock/agri-business, enterprise development, financial inclusion, and youth coaching. The Business Coach will ensure participants gain the practical skills needed to build profitable, resilient, and scalable enterprises.

Key Responsibilities

1. Participant Selection, Training & Enterprise Coaching

• Lead participant identification and onboarding per program criteria.
• Customize training content with curriculum specialists to match market needs.
• Deliver business training and coaching using REAP, integrating gender and climate action.
• Conduct enterprise assessments and develop tailored coaching plans.
• Support participants in identifying, establishing, and managing viable enterprises.
• Equip participants with technical skills in climate-smart livestock/agri-business practices.

2. Market Systems & Value Chain Development

• Conduct value chain and market systems assessments.
• Facilitate linkages with off-takers, processors, traders, aggregators, financial institutions, and other actors.
• Promote youth- and women-inclusive business models.
• Support formation of aggregation initiatives with cooperatives, private sector, county governments, and producer groups.

3. Business Development Services & Financial Inclusion

• Guide participants in developing business models, cost structures, and cashflow plans.
• Support access to savings, loans, digital finance, insurance, and other financial services.
• Lead in the formation and strengthening of VSLAs, including training on financial literacy, life skills, and psychosocial support.
• Assist participants in applying for Challenge Fund grants.
• Monitor usage and impact of grant funds.

4. Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

• Ensure program delivery is on time, within budget, and aligned to scope.
• Provide training on entrepreneurship, marketing, livestock/agri-enterprise growth strategies.
• Facilitate monthly mentorship with enterprise and savings groups.
• Collaborate with county governments, TVETs, research institutions, and private sector partners.

5. Monitoring, Learning & Reporting

• Collect high-quality data using digital tools (tablets, Salesforce).
• Maintain business and VSLA performance indicators.
• Participate in periodic review meetings and present data insights.
• Document success stories, lessons, and market intelligence.
• Maintain assigned tools including motorcycles and tablets.

Qualification & Experience

Minimum Academic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Livestock Production, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, or related fields.

Professional Experience

• 3–5 years experience in livestock and agri-value chain development in ASALs.
• Experience in business coaching, MSME support, or Business Development Services (BDS).
• Knowledge of Market Systems Development (MSD/M4P).
• Experience working with youth, women, refugees, pastoralist and agro-pastoral communities.
• Experience building market and financial linkages.

Additional Competencies

• Strong coaching and mentorship skills.
• Solid understanding of market dynamics, enterprise growth, and financial literacy.
• Data collection and analysis skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Must have a valid A1/A2 motorcycle riding license.
• Digital literacy (mobile data collection, MS Office; Salesforce is a plus).
• Ability to work independently in remote field locations.
• Must be a resident of one of the 15 target counties and speak at least one local language from that county.