BOMA is a non-profit organization established in 2006 with a vision to eradicate extreme poverty in Africa’s drylands. The organization is committed to transforming lives by equipping women, youth, and refugees with the skills, tools, and opportunities necessary to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their resilience against multiple crises.
BOMA’s mission focuses on enabling the people and governments of Africa’s drylands to implement adaptive economic inclusion programs that reduce extreme poverty rates and build long-term resilience. Through its unique and context-adaptive Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP) graduation model, BOMA empowers individuals and communities to escape poverty through entrepreneurship, mentorship, and access to essential services.
To date, BOMA has successfully transformed the lives of more than one million women, youth, and refugees across vulnerable communities. The organization’s approach integrates technology, data, and participant-centered design to ensure that its interventions are scalable, measurable, and impactful.
About the Nawiri Program
The Nawiri Program aims to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition (PAM) in Turkana and Samburu counties. The program is led by Mercy Corps in collaboration with implementing partners such as BOMA and Save the Children International, among others. The Nawiri Program integrates both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to address the root causes of acute malnutrition at individual, household, community, and systems levels.
A key component of the Nawiri Program is the Rural Entrepreneurship Access Project for Nutrition (R4N), a poverty graduation model designed to improve nutrition outcomes. R4N targets nutritionally vulnerable and ultra-poor households and seeks to integrate core graduation and complementary interventions that help participants move out of extreme poverty and undernutrition.
The program, which runs until September 2027, is guided by an evidence-based approach that combines community engagement, behavior change communication, and economic empowerment.
Job Summary
The Mentor Reliever will play a key role in implementing the R4N component of the Nawiri Program in Kang’atotha, Turkana. Reporting directly to the Field Officer and indirectly to the Program Coordinator, the Mentor Reliever will be responsible for providing time-bound coaching, mentorship, and monitoring support to ultra-poor and nutritionally vulnerable households over an 18-month period.
The role aims to guide households along a structured pathway out of extreme poverty and undernutrition. The Mentor Reliever will serve as a critical link between program participants, local communities, and other system actors working to reduce persistent acute malnutrition.
By supporting participants in establishing viable livelihoods, improving access to nutritious food, and strengthening community linkages, the Mentor Reliever will contribute to BOMA’s broader goal of building self-reliant and resilient communities in Africa’s drylands.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The Mentor Reliever will perform the following key functions:
1. Participant Selection and Enrollment
- Participate in the identification, selection, and enrollment of individuals and households into the R4N program based on established criteria.
- Ensure transparency and inclusivity during the selection process, collaborating closely with local leaders, community-based organizations, and program stakeholders.
2. Coaching and Mentorship
- Provide structured coaching, mentorship, and monitoring support to targeted ultra-poor and nutritionally vulnerable households for a period of 18 months.
- Guide participants on their journey to self-reliance through regular group and household sessions focused on business development, financial literacy, and nutrition awareness.
- Monitor participants’ progress and provide tailored support to address emerging challenges.
3. Group Formation and Development
- Organize participants into various groups aligned with program objectives, such as umbrella business groups, livestock aggregation groups, value chain groups, and savings groups.
- Facilitate the formation, nurturing, and registration of savings groups, ensuring adherence to group governance and operational structures.
4. Business Development Support
- Assist participants in identifying, establishing, and managing viable and profitable small businesses that provide products, goods, and services to last-mile communities.
- Provide mentorship on business planning, marketing, record-keeping, and profit reinvestment.
- Facilitate market linkages to enhance participants’ access to broader business ecosystems.
5. Relationship Building and Community Engagement
- Build strong relationships with program participants, community leaders, and other stakeholders to foster ownership and motivation.
- Encourage participants to take agency in their journey toward poverty alleviation and improved nutrition.
6. Nutrition and Health Collaboration
- Work closely with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and Community Health Assistants (CHAs) to conduct monthly nutritional screenings for children under five years and women of reproductive age.
- Facilitate timely referrals and follow-ups for cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
- Support nutrition education, counseling, and awareness sessions during group meetings and community outreach events.
7. Group Coaching and Household Follow-Up
- Conduct monthly coaching sessions at the savings group level, focusing on financial literacy, business growth, and social empowerment.
- Conduct quarterly household visits using the Household Visioning and Action Plan framework to assess individual progress and adapt mentorship strategies accordingly.
8. Market and Financial Linkages
- Organize monthly mentorship sessions for business groups, focusing on market access and financial inclusion.
- Facilitate linkages between participants and formal financial institutions, private sector players, and value chain actors.
9. Savings Group Development and Financial Literacy
- Lead capacity-building sessions for savings groups on financial management, savings and lending operations, and group governance.
- Support registration processes and facilitate connections with Private Service Providers (PSPs) and formal financial actors.
10. Behavior Change Communication and Livelihood Diversification
- Conduct monthly sessions on Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), nutrition, and livelihood diversification.
- Encourage the adoption of healthy practices and diversified income sources to reduce vulnerability to shocks.
11. Coordination with Other Frontline Workers
- Collaborate with USAID Nawiri and community-based frontline workers, including GIRL H mentors, BOY Group mentors, male champions, CHPs, CHAs, and producer group leaders.
- Promote a unified “One Nawiri” approach to tackling Persistent Acute Malnutrition through joint activities and shared community goals.
12. Health Facility Engagement
- Participate in monthly data review meetings at health facilities to strengthen coordination between program and health system actors.
Program Monitoring and Reporting
1. Data Collection and Management
- Collect, record, and submit accurate data on individual, household, business group, and savings group performance according to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan.
- Maintain data integrity by adhering to the Data Quality Standard Operating Procedures (SoP).
2. Performance Tracking
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for households, business groups, and savings groups to assess progress toward graduation milestones.
- Utilize all monitoring and data collection tools as guided by the Field Officer, M&E, and IT departments.
3. Equipment and Resource Management
- Ensure proper maintenance of all assigned work tools, including tablets and motorcycles.
- Maintain fuel logs, submit repair requests in a timely manner, and ensure safety protocols are followed.
4. Reporting and Planning
- Prepare participants for donor and program visits, including those by the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and other key stakeholders.
- Participate actively in weekly, monthly, and quarterly review meetings, providing insights and feedback for program improvement.
- Support planning meetings and contribute to the continuous learning process within the program team.
5. Other Duties
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor in alignment with program objectives.
Minimum Qualifications and Required Competencies
- Diploma in community health and nutrition, public health, community development, social work, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of two years’ experience in community-based work, preferably in poverty reduction, nutrition, or health-related programs.
- Proficiency in data collection and mobile data tools.
- Valid motorcycle license (A1/A2) with proven riding experience.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated empathy, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications and basic ICT tools.
- Ability to make data-informed decisions and work with minimal supervision.
Terms of Employment
This is a full-time reliever position based in Kang’atotha, Turkana. The role offers an opportunity to work within a dynamic, impact-oriented team committed to reducing poverty and improving nutrition outcomes in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit their applications through BOMA’s official recruitment portal on the FlairHR BOMA Career Portal. Applicants are reminded to accurately indicate their current location during the application process.
Applications must be received by 15th October 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps in the recruitment process.
