JOB DESCRIPTION – PROGRAM MANAGER – LIFT NORTHERN KENYA, TURKANA
COUNTY
Job Title Program Manager, LIFT Northern Kenya – Turkana County
Reports to/Accountability: Program Director – LIFT Northern Kenya
Job titles of persons supervised Program Coordinator and Field Officers in Turkana County
(Lodwar Office)
Job Location Lodwar office with frequent visits to Kakuma and Kalobeyei to
support program NRM activities
Employment Type Contract – through July 2025
1. INTRODUCTION
BOMA is a Kenyan NGO that was started in the drylands of Kenya and continues to provide tailored
poverty alleviation programming across Northern Kenya. BOMA is working to lift 3 million people out
of extreme poverty by 2027. BOMA’s mission is to provide the people and governments of Africa’s
drylands with economic inclusion programs that increase resilience to multiple crises. Founded 15 years
ago to eliminate extreme poverty among pastoralist women in Kenya, BOMA has since transformed the
lives of more than 704,352 women, youth and refugees in the drylands of Africa. BOMA stands out for
its focus on last mile populations of the drylands of Africa, who are most at risk to shocks from climate
change and COVID-19, tech savvy and data driven approach, impressive graduation rate and 99% local
structure based in Africa.
Find out more about BOMA by visiting their Website
2. ABOUT BOMA’s PRODUCTS
BOMA is recognized for developing an innovative, gender-focused poverty graduation model for the
extreme-poor women in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), the Rural Entrepreneur Access Project
(REAP). This long-term program offers a highly sequenced, layered and timebound set of interventions
that help the poorest and most vulnerable women gain financial literacy, receive one to two years of
mentoring in businesses and life skills, and through a conditional cash grant provided by BOMA, start
small businesses to earn an income and establish savings groups, and build their resilience to shocks
and strengthen social capital. Standard REAP/REAP for Women’s Economic Empowerment is BOMA’s
flagship model and has tremendous potential to scale up across Kenya and beyond in all of ASAL
countries in which BOMA is operating.
In the face of ever-increasing climate crises, BOMA has also developed a climate-oriented adaptation of
its REAP model – called REAP for Climate Resilience product to spearhead interventions that will build
climate resilience and exit participants and communities out of extreme poverty starting with people in
the forested areas and rangelands of all ASAL countries in which BOMA is operating.
3. ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Livelihoods and Inclusion for Transformation (LIFT) Northern Kenya is implementing a crisis – adapted
green version of the Boma’s proven poverty graduation model the rural entrepreneur access project (REAP)
over a three year period in Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu counties helping 10,950 households to establish
green enterprises, support greening of systems and policies and at the end graduate participants out of
extreme poverty; protect, restore and plan for long term sustainable management of four sensitive
ecosystems and strengthen political and social enabling environment for refugee livelihoods and social
inclusion, green enterprises and sustainable natural resource management.
4. JOB SUMMARY
The Program Manager (PM) will lead the implementation, learnings and adaptations of the LIFT Northern
Kenya in Turkana County including managing project teams based in Lodwar office and, together with the
Program Manager, Natural Resource Management (NRM) (based in Samburu),provide technical guidance
on natural resource management approaches and tools, including and specifically NRM related to drylands
agriculture; sustainable rangeland management; sustainable forest management; non-timber forest
product harvesting; reforestation; adoption and use of cleaner energy cooking solutions and climate
change adaptation and mitigation to the Turkana team. This dual role includes both general project and
team management and technical guidance in NRM. The PM will be responsible for driving performance with
accountability and results to achieve program objectives in a timely manner and while stewarding resources.
The PM will work closely with LIFT NK consortium members, research partners, government agencies such
as the Kenya Forest Services, respective county governments and contractors to monitor project activities
and budget spending and ensure quality program delivery and high-impact NRM interventions.
The PM will be responsible for driving program quality delivery, enhancing program performance and
deliver results towards achieving the expected program outcomes while adhering to the organization
policies and in line with the donor’s expectations. The PM will lead the team to deliver quality and timely
implementation within scope and on budget, provide leadership and guidance on activities
implementations, oversee program budgets, document quality reports, and ensure excellence in all
BOMA’s activities. This being the final year of the program, the PM will take lead in fast-tracking quality
delivery of the project activities and strengthen sustainability structures and exit strategies, as we enhance
communities climate resilience to adapt and mitigate harsh climatic conditions.
5. Duties & Responsibilities:
5.1 Program Planning and Implementation
5.1.1 Contribute to annual target setting and planning with the Program Director – LIFT Northern
Kenya.
5.1.2 Lead the County-level implementation, adaptations and reporting of programming aligned with
LIFT Northern Kenya’s program design, targeting ultra-poor populations to grow group
businesses focused on “green” livelihoods.
5.1.3 Ensure joint implementation plans for LIFT Northern Kenya reflect the needs, opportunities and
constrains of the target populations.
5.1.4 Coordinate with technical, programmatic, and administrative personnel involved in the
implementation, monitoring, documentation, and evaluation of the activity.
5.1.5 Ensure all NRM activities are being delivered on-time, on-budget and with quality, and tracking
all KPIs for the product (including range land management, conservation and linkages to
markets, financial institutions and other economic opportunities)
5.1.6 Ensure BOMA’s standards for operational excellence and donor expectations are met.
5.1.7 Ensure timely project implementation, data collection, and technical excellence in NRM,
conservation and rangeland management.
5.1.8 Lead on County-level work planning, budget and progress tracking, and reporting.
5.1.9 Together with the Program Manager, NRM, provide technical and/or operational guidance in
NRM, conservation and rangeland management to Field officers, Mentors, and other colleagues
involved in the program.
5.1.10 Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual program planning and budgeting process for
each assigned program, adjusting in coordination with the LIFT Northern Kenya Program
Director, the Portfolio Director, REAP for Climate Resilience and the consortium partners.
5.1.11 Track the progress of implementation of the assigned programs against the detailed
implementation plans, conservation plans, budgets and BOMA’s program standards for quality
program delivery, and ensure timely and quality program implementation at every program
stage.
5.1.12 Coordinate with technical, programmatic, training, research and learning, monitoring and
evaluation, IT, finance & administrative and people operations personnel involved in the
implementation of the assigned programs, and ensure their contributions are aligned with the
workplan and intended outcomes.
5.1.13 Align with technical standards for BOMA’s products, monitor program activities, and
contribute to improvements to the product design based on program learning.
5.1.14 Present the workplans, scopes of work, and schedule of activities to the Finance and
Administration Department as per recommended timelines for proper facilitation and supervise
the fulfillment of the activities according to the work plan.
5.1.15 Lead weekly Program Management Team meetings, including agenda setting, note taking,
flagging issues for decision making to Program Director, and other documentation.
5.1.16 Maintain proper program documentation including success stories and ensure everyone
has access to all program documentation on SharePoint.
5.2 Technical Guidance on Climate Resilience, NRM and Green Entrepreneurship in Turkana
5.2.1 Together with the Program Manager, NRM, provide technical guidance on natural resource
management approaches and tools, including and specifically NRM activities related to drylands
conservation agriculture; sustainable rangeland management; sustainable forest management;
non-timber forest product harvesting; reforestation; and climate change adaptation and
mitigation across the Turkana county where LIFT NK is implemented.
5.2.2 Work with the LIFT NK Program Director and other Program Managers to lead in technical
engagement with county Directorates of Environment, Natural Resource Management, Energy &
Climate Change and Kenya Forest Services across in Turkana County to roll-out developed
county specific Environmental and conservation plans, Climate Change, Energy and NRM in line
with the project goals.
5.2.3 Develop technical papers and popular guides on Environmental conservation, Energy, Climate
change and NRM that forms the basis for engagement and lobbying government on important
policy issues.
5.2.4 Together with County Forest conservators (CFC), Ward Climate Change planning committees
(WCCPC), Community Forest Associations and Forest Resource User associations in Turkana
county, lead the implementation of County plans for Ecosystem restoration and Participatory
Forest management plans and agreements across all designated Forests ecosystems.
5.3 Data Management and Monitoring
5.3.1 Collaborate with the Monitoring & Evaluation and Research & Learning teams to review and
implement M&E Plans and Research & Learning agendas in assigned programs.
5.3.2 Ensure all team members understand the goals of the program and the Key Performance
Indicators, including Financial and Market Linkages.
5.3.3 Work with Monitoring & Evaluation and IT to contribute to the recommended adaptation of
BOMA’s systems to ensure alignment of data collection and reporting to BOMA’s products and
programs.
5.3.4 Track the Key Performance Indicators of the assigned programs and report any challenges.
5.3.5 Ensure the accuracy and quality of program data, especially the data collected by Mentors, by
coordinating the supervisory activities of program Field Officers.
5.3.6 Analyze data collected against intended targets and share internally and externally as needed.
5.3.7 Provide explanations when data analysis shows a misalignment with expected targets and use
those to draft improvement plans together with Field Officers and Mentors.
5.4 Collaboration, Learning and Adapting
5.4.1 Collaborate with the Portfolio and Research & Learning team to establish and maintain periodic
reviews of performance standards.
5.4.2 Support, as needed, the ongoing RCT impact evaluation conducted by Innovations for Poverty
Action, as well as BOMA’s cross-border climate research activities, and drive improvements
based on research and learning
5.4.3 Document and share learning and stories with LIFT NK Program Director, Portfolio Director REAP
for Climate Resilience, Research & Learning and Monitoring & Evaluation.
Participate in pause and reflect sessions and sense-making workshops to digest learning and
improve program design and implementation.
5.5 Staff Management and Capacity Development
5.5.1 Supervise staff implementing the assigned program.
5.5.2 Coordinate the supervisory activities of program, and directly supervise Program Coordinator
and Field Officers (who supervise Mentors).
5.5.3 Provide technical and/or operational guidance to the Field Officers and Mentors involved in the
program.
5.5.4 Confirm the knowledge base of Program staff and arrange for appropriate training of Program
staff where capacity gaps exist, working close with Training and Capacity Development team.
5.5.5 In collaboration with the People Operations Team ensure that the program is adequately
resourced/staffed, and performance & conduct of Field Team under your supervision is
monitored and evaluated in line BOMA policies.
5.6 Reporting
5.6.1 Work with the program, technical and M&E teams to produce timely and high-quality program
reports, as per the donor deliverable reporting schedule, with support from the Grant Manager.
5.6.2 Manage the assigned program’s budget, monitor expenditure and costs against delivered and
realized benefits as the program progresses.
5.6.3 Review financial reports to ensure they are aligned with the technical reports, prior to submission.
5.7 Representation/Advocacy/Engagement/Communications
5.7.1 Organize and/or represent BOMA and the graduation agenda when called upon to enhance
learning and promote adaptation of the graduation approach.
5.7.2 Contribute to communications outputs by sharing photos, stories and reviewing reports to
ensure accuracy.
5.7.3 Host donors and potential partners, and contribute to the planning of their trips, as needed in
the field.
5.7.4 Recommend conferences, networks, and other collaborative spaces for BOMA to explore to
expand organizational presence in NRM and climate change work.
5.7.5 Represent BOMA wherever needed and as often as possible.
5.8 Program Growth and Development
5.8.1 Identify and spearhead expansion and growth opportunities for scale in the region in
consultation with the LIFT NK Program Director and Portfolio Director – REAP for Climate
Resilience product
5.8.2 Contribute to proposal development processes, as requested.
5.9 Taking up any other additional duties and responsibilities that are assigned from time to
time.
6. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
6.1 Bachelor’s degree in international development, Economics, Business, Development, Natural
Resource Management, Environmental studies and Climate change or a related field required
from a recognized institution. Master’s degree in a relevant field desired.
6.2 Minimum 5 years managing Climate and NRM related livelihood and community development
projects.
6.3 Knowledge of Poverty Graduation Approaches an added advantage.
6.4 Certification in Project Management Training (desired)
6.5 Excellence interpersonal, oral and written communication and negotiation skills, including expert
command of English grammar and AP style.
6.6 Strong analytical and organizational skills.
6.7 Excellent computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet, remote conferencing applications.
Salesforce experience is a plus.
6.8 Experience within the region and understanding of local dynamics highly preferred.
6.9 Experience in change management in growing organizations.
6.10 Strong analytical and report writing skills.
7. Essential Soft Skills:
7.1 Excellent relationship building skills.
7.2 Flexible and adaptable with proven capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to a changing
environment.
7.3 Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and being held accountable for meeting
ambitious targets.
7.4 Leadership skills to work with autonomy while still being collaborative, prioritize tasks, and
positively influence others to follow directives and meet deliverables.
7.5 Problem-solver mentality, with the ability to adapt seamlessly to changing priorities and enforce
regulations.
7.6 Organized, high level of accuracy, and meticulous attention to detail.
7.7 Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources; and
7.8 Adaptable to changing priorities and deadlines seamlessly.
8. How to Apply:
This is a full-time position with BOMA Project based in Lodwar, Turkana,with frequent visits to Kakuma and
Kalobeyei to support program NRM activities.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Interested and suitable qualified candidates to submit their application, through BOMA’s recruitment portal
on FlairHR using 058 Program Manager LIFT NK Turkana - BOMA Career Portal
Applications must be received by 28th November 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
While we thank all applicants for expressing interest in the role, please note that only shortlisted candidates
will be contacted.
