Project Officer – NYOTA Refugee BD Services Mentor guiding and supporting refugee youth entrepreneurs through structured mentorship, business guidance and market linkages, requiring practical business experience, strong coaching and interpersonal skills, and knowledge of refugee/displacement-affected settings, in an NGO humanitarian environment, on-site role in Dadaab.
Overall purpose of the role:
DRC has
submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for The National Youth Opportunities
Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, supported by the World Bank and
implemented by the Government of Kenya through the Micro and Small Enterprises
Authority (MSEA), that aims to expand employment and entrepreneurship
opportunities for vulnerable youth. In anticipation of being shortlisted and
invited to submit a full proposal, DRC is launching this recruitment process to
identify suitably qualified candidates for the proposed key positions. Any
subsequent engagement will be conditional on DRC progressing to the proposal
stage and ultimately being awarded the assignment.
Within
this anticipated assignment, the BDS Mentor will guide and support refugee
youth entrepreneurs through structured mentorship, drawing on practical
business experience to strengthen their decision-making, resilience and
capacity to develop viable and sustainable enterprises. The role will provide
ongoing advice and encouragement, support participants to address business
challenges, and help strengthen market linkages and progress towards their
entrepreneurial goals.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Structured
mentorship
- Provide
regular one-to-one and/or small-group mentorship to refugee youth
entrepreneurs, including scheduled check-ins and progress reviews.
- Reinforce
BDS training content, help participants troubleshoot business challenges,
refine plans and remain accountable to agreed business goals.
- Share
practical lessons from real business experience and help participants
avoid common mistakes in their entrepreneurial journey
Business
guidance and market linkages
- Advise
mentees on relevant areas including strategic planning, financial
management, marketing, operations and day-to-day business decision-making.
- Support
linkages to local entrepreneurs, business groups, markets, finance and
other BDS or complementary services where appropriate.
- Contribute
to community business forums, peer-learning spaces and other networking
opportunities intended to expand market access and social cohesion.
Motivation,
inclusion and safe support
- Act
as an excellent listener and provide a respectful space for mentees to
discuss challenges, ideas and progress.
- Provide
encouragement and emotional support that helps mentees remain motivated
and resilient while respecting professional boundaries and referral
procedures.
- Support
inclusive mentorship approaches for women and persons with disabilities
and demonstrate cultural competence in refugee and displacement-affected
settings.
Documentation
and coordination
- Document
mentorship contacts, content and progress in the formats required by the
project and support verification of sessions delivered.
- Coordinate
with the Team Leader, BDS Delivery Specialists and DRC project staff to
identify follow-up needs and relevant referrals.
- Participate
in mentor training, supervision and reporting arrangements established for
the assignment
Experience and Technical
Competence
- Extensive
practical experience in the business world, including successful
experience running a business.
- Strong
knowledge of core business areas such as strategic planning, financial
management, marketing and operations.
- Strong
listening, coaching and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide
practical guidance and constructive support.
- Ability
to conduct regular progress reviews and help entrepreneurs adjust plans
and stay on track with their goals.
- Knowledge
of the realities of doing business in refugee/camp or
displacement-affected settings is highly relevant to the assignment.
- The
mentor cohort must include demonstrated competence in supporting
entrepreneurs with disabilities and meaningful representation of female
mentors; DRC therefore particularly welcomes applications from women and
candidates with relevant disability-inclusion experience.
Education
- Minimum
secondary school education or equivalent.
- Certificate,
diploma or other vocational/professional training in business,
entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, management or a related field is an
advantage.
- Practical
business and mentoring experience is central to the role
Language
- Ability
to mentor participants in relevant languages used in refugee settings.
- Proficiency
in Somali is highly desirable, particularly for work with refugee
communities in Dadaab
