BOMA is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 with a clear vision to end extreme poverty across Africa’s drylands. The organization is driven by its mission to work alongside people and governments in Africa’s arid and semi-arid regions to deliver adapted economic inclusion programs that significantly reduce extreme poverty rates while strengthening the capacity of individuals and communities to withstand multiple crises.
BOMA achieves this mission through its context-adaptive Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP) graduation model. This model is designed to economically empower women, youth, and refugees by equipping them with essential skills, resources, and linkages required to create sustainable livelihoods. The REAP model is a proven and flexible framework that focuses on addressing the root causes of poverty while fostering long-term resilience.
Since its founding, BOMA has made a remarkable impact by transforming the lives of over one million women, youth, and refugees. The organization focuses on last-mile communities that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and systemic shocks. By leveraging a tech-enabled, data-driven, and participant-centered approach, BOMA ensures its programs deliver measurable, scalable, and lasting change in the communities it serves.
BOMA’s work is built on the foundation of partnership, innovation, and accountability. Its goal is to create sustainable solutions that empower individuals to escape poverty and contribute to the overall development of their communities.
About the Nawiri Program
The Nawiri Program seeks to sustainably reduce Persistent Acute Malnutrition (PAM) in Turkana and Samburu counties. Led by Mercy Corps as the consortium lead, and implemented in collaboration with BOMA, Save the Children International, and other local implementing partners, the program runs through September 2027. Nawiri integrates both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions that address the drivers of acute malnutrition at the individual, household, community, and systems levels.
A core component of the program is the Rural Entrepreneurship Access Project for Nutrition (R4N), which is an adaptation of the REAP model focusing on nutrition outcomes. This approach targets nutritionally vulnerable and ultra-poor households, integrating a combination of graduation and complementary interventions. The goal is to enable these households to move out of extreme poverty and undernutrition through sustainable livelihood development, improved access to markets, and enhanced household resilience.
By combining social, economic, and behavioral interventions, the Nawiri Program promotes a holistic approach to addressing the underlying causes of poverty and malnutrition.
Job Summary
Under the supervision of the Field Officer and indirect oversight of the Program Coordinator, the Mentor will play a central role in implementing the R4N model within the Nawiri Program in Lorengo, Turkana. The Mentor will be responsible for providing an 18-month structured mentorship and coaching process to ultra-poor and nutritionally vulnerable households, guiding them on their journey toward economic stability and improved nutrition.
As a critical system actor in addressing Persistent Acute Malnutrition (PAM), the Mentor will facilitate participants’ engagement in economic activities, promote behavior change, and support linkages to services and markets. This includes assisting participants in developing viable businesses, establishing savings groups, and ensuring they access products and services such as nutritious foods, income opportunities, and market networks.
The Mentor’s efforts contribute directly to the program’s goal of enabling households to graduate from extreme poverty and undernutrition, while also fostering inclusive community development.
Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Participant Selection and Enrollment
- Participate in identifying and enrolling eligible individuals and households into the R4N program through established and transparent selection criteria.
- Work closely with community leaders, local partners, and program teams to ensure that the most vulnerable households are prioritized for participation.
2. Coaching and Mentorship
- Provide structured coaching and mentorship over an 18-month period, focusing on empowering ultra-poor and nutritionally vulnerable households.
- Support participants in achieving key milestones along their journey out of poverty through regular guidance, follow-up visits, and training.
- Foster a relationship of trust, motivation, and accountability between the mentor and program participants.
3. Group Formation and Development
- Facilitate the establishment and nurturing of various participant groups such as umbrella business groups, livestock aggregation groups, value chain aggregation groups, and savings groups.
- Ensure each group is aligned with the program’s design and objectives, and provide continuous mentorship to strengthen their operations.
4. Business Development and Livelihood Support
- Support targeted households in identifying, setting up, and managing viable and profitable micro-enterprises that deliver products, goods, and services to last-mile communities.
- Promote entrepreneurship by providing business planning guidance, record-keeping support, and market linkages.
- Encourage innovation and diversification of income-generating activities to enhance household resilience.
5. Community Engagement and Relationship Building
- Build and maintain positive relationships with program participants, community leaders, and other local stakeholders.
- Create a supportive environment that encourages participants’ self-motivation and agency to sustain their journey out of poverty and undernutrition.
6. Nutrition and Health Collaboration
- Collaborate with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and Community Health Assistants (CHAs) to conduct monthly nutritional screenings for children under five and women of reproductive age.
- Facilitate referrals for treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases in coordination with health facilities.
- Conduct community-based nutrition education sessions and promote behavior change for improved dietary practices.
7. Group Coaching and Household Follow-Up
- Lead monthly group coaching sessions at the savings group level, focusing on business growth, financial literacy, and health awareness.
- Conduct household follow-up visits on a quarterly basis using the Household Visioning and Action Plan framework to monitor progress and provide personalized support.
8. Market and Financial Linkages
- Organize regular mentorship sessions for business groups, focusing on improving access to markets and financial services.
- Establish partnerships with financial institutions, private sector actors, and market facilitators to enhance participants’ access to business opportunities.
9. Savings Group Support and Financial Literacy
- Conduct capacity-building sessions for savings groups, including training on savings and lending procedures, financial literacy, and group management.
- Support group registration and linkages to formal financial systems and Private Service Providers (PSPs).
10. Nutrition Education and Behavior Change
- Deliver monthly sessions on nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), and livelihood diversification.
- Encourage the adoption of positive nutrition and health practices among households.
11. Coordination and Collaboration
- Coordinate with other USAID Nawiri community-based actors, including GIRL H mentors, BOY Group mentors, male champions, CHPs, CHAs, and producer group leaders.
- Work collaboratively to promote an integrated “One Nawiri” approach to reducing persistent acute malnutrition.
12. Health Facility Collaboration
- Participate in monthly health facility data review meetings to strengthen collaboration between community-level and health system interventions.
Program Monitoring and Reporting
1. Data Collection and Tracking
- Collect data according to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan to track the progress of households, business groups, and savings groups toward graduation.
- Maintain adherence to data quality standards as outlined in the organization’s Data Quality Standard Operating Procedures (SoP).
2. Performance Management
- Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to household, business group, and savings group performance.
- Use data to inform decision-making and improve program implementation.
3. Resource Management
- Maintain all assigned tools, including tablets and motorcycles, in good working condition.
- Ensure timely submission of fuel logs, maintenance requests, and repair reports.
4. Reporting and Planning
- Prepare participants and communities for monitoring visits by the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and other stakeholders.
- Participate in weekly, monthly, and quarterly planning and reflection meetings.
- Contribute to program reviews, learning sessions, and strategic discussions.
5. Additional Responsibilities
- Undertake any other assignments as directed by the supervisor in line with program objectives.
Minimum Qualification and Required Competencies
- Diploma in community health and nutrition, public health, community development, social work, or a related field.
- At least two years of relevant experience in community-based work, with proven experience in data collection and community engagement.
- Valid motorcycle license (A1/A2) with practical riding experience.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including empathy, conflict resolution, collaboration, and problem-solving.
- Proficiency in mobile data collection tools and Microsoft Office applications.
- Self-driven with the ability to work independently and make data-informed decisions.
Terms of Employment
This is a full-time position based in Lorengo, Turkana County. The role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to BOMA’s mission of reducing poverty and improving nutrition outcomes in Kenya’s drylands.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit their applications through BOMA’s recruitment portal on the FlairHR BOMA Career Portal. Applicants must ensure that their exact location is indicated in their application.
Applications must be received no later than 15th October 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
