Business Coach

JOB SUMMARY 

The Business Coach will be responsible for delivering hands-on enterprise development support to young women and men  participants engaged in livestock and agri-related value chains. Using both the REAP Graduation Model and a Market Systems Development approach, the Business Coach will lead in participant targeting and selection,  training, business mentorship and coaching, grant management, group savings and loaning linkages to markets and financial institutions to enable participants build viable, scalable, and resilient enterprises. He/She will work closely with consortium partners and technical experts for participants to access technical skills and support required in growing their businesses.

This role is highly field-based and requires strong technical understanding of livestock/agri-business, financial inclusion, value chain development, private sector engagement, and youth-focused coaching.

The Business Coach will ensure participants acquire the practical knowledge, resources, and linkages needed to access markets, increase incomes, and sustainably grow their enterprises.

Responsibilities

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Participant Selection, Training & Enterprise Coaching 

• Lead in participant identification and onboarding using the program selection criteria.
• Collaborate with training and curriculum development staff to customize training content to align with market demand, context relevance and participants’ needs
• Deliver structured business training and coaching using the REAP model, integrating climate action and gender-responsive approaches.
• Conduct enterprise assessments and develop tailored coaching plans for individual entrepreneurs, groups, and MSMEs.
• Provide coaching support to participants to identify, establish, grow and manage viable livestock and agri-enterprises.
• Provide participants with technical skills to adopt of climate-smart livestock and agri-business practices.

Market Systems & Value Chain Development 

• Conduct value chain and market systems analyses to identify constraints and opportunities.
•  Identify and conduct linkages with off-takers, processors, traders, aggregators, financial institutions, input providers, and other ecosystem actors.
• Promote inclusive, youth- and women-friendly business models within livestock and agri-markets.
• Identify and establish aggregation initiatives with cooperatives, market and producer groups, private sector, county government and business networks to strengthen market access. 

Business Development Services & Financial Inclusion 

• Guide participants to develop business models, financial planning, cost analysis, and cashflow management for their businesses
• Strengthen participants access to savings, loans, digital finance, insurance, and other formal and informal financial services including grant funds and government affirmative action funds
• Take lead in the formation, strengthening, and training of VSLAs, including registration, financial literacy, life skills , mental health and psychosocial skills
• Guide participants to develop viable business plans and apply for the Challenge Fund grant.
• Monitor effective utilization of Challenge Fund grants.

​​​​​​​Technical Assistance & Capacity Building 

• Ensure quality delivery of the program outcomes with accountability in time, on budget and within the scope
• Deliver training on entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, livestock and agri-enterprise management, and business growth strategies.
•  Facilitate monthly mentorship sessions with business groups and savings groups.
•  Collaborate with county governments, TVETs, research institutions, and private sector actors to unlock technical skills, markets, and employment opportunities. 

​​​​​​​Monitoring, Learning & Reporting 

• Collect high-quality data in line with M&E protocols and maintain business/VSLA KPIs.
• Utilize assigned digital tools for data capture (tablets, digital forms, Salesforce).
• Participate in weekly/monthly/quarterly review meetings and contribute data insights.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, adaptations, and emerging market insights.
• Maintain all assigned tools, including motorcycles and tablets.

Requirements

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Academic Requirements

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

 Experience

• Prior 3-5 years of work experience in the Livestock and agri-related value chain development within ASALs.
• Business coaching, MSME support, or Business Development Services (BDS).
• Market Systems Development (MSD/M4P).
• Working with youth, women, refugees, pastoralist and agro-pastoral communities.
• Building market and financial linkages with private sector actors.