Youth Enterprise Coaches

About EAMDA

The East Africa Market Development Associates (EAMDA) is a research, programmes implementation and management company working across multiple industries and agricultural value chains in Africa. We specialise in development implementation initiatives in partnership with public and private sector actors.

About the Program

The Financial Inclusion for Youths and MSMEs in Agriculture (FIYMA) program is a multi-year initiative designed to strengthen youth-led enterprises, build viable market linkages, and expand access to affordable finance for young people and youth-led MSMEs operating within targeted agricultural value chains and geographies. The program supports youth entrepreneurs through structured enterprise coaching, market systems facilitation, and partnerships with market actors and financial institutions, including SACCOs and other formal and semi-formal providers.

Job Purpose

The Youth Enterprise Coach (YEC) is responsible for delivering high-quality, business-focused coaching and enterprise development support to youth-led MSMEs and groups (including self-help groups and community-based organizations). The role is designed to strengthen business fundamentals, such as recordkeeping, costing and pricing, cashflow management, and market readiness, while supporting participants to progress toward sustainable market engagement and responsible access to finance.

This is a technically demanding role requiring strong financial literacy, practical business acumen, and the ability to translate accounting and enterprise concepts into simple, action-oriented coaching. The YEC will work directly with youth entrepreneurs, facilitate structured learning sessions, conduct field-based diagnostics, support action planning, and contribute to building credible enterprise pipelines for market linkage and SACCO finance readiness. The role also requires strict adherence to safeguarding, inclusion, and ethical engagement standards.

Minimum Qualifications (Mandatory)

Education

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in one of the following disciplines:
• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)
• Bachelor of Economics
• Bachelor of Business and Economics
• Bachelor of Agribusiness Management
• Bachelor of Cooperative Management

Degrees outside these fields will not be considered for this role.

Professional Certification (Mandatory)

• A minimum of CPA Part I (CPA I) or higher.
• Candidates must demonstrate strong foundational competency in: profit and loss concepts, costing, pricing and margin analysis, cash flow management, working capital discipline, and basic interpretation of financial records and business performance trends.

Residency and Local Availability (Mandatory)

• Must be currently resident in the county of application and available to work consistently within the county and surrounding programme areas.
• Must be willing and able to travel regularly to programme sites, including rural and peri-urban locations.

Graduation and Age Requirements (Mandatory)

• Must have completed the Bachelor’s degree in 2020 or later.
• Must be 30 years of age or below at the time of application.

Added Advantage (Preferred)

The following will be considered a strong advantage during shortlisting and final selection:

Relevant Experience

• At least 6–24 months of experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Business development services (BDS) or enterprise coaching
• SME advisory support, incubation, or entrepreneurship programming
• Financial services (SACCOs, microfinance, banking, credit administration)
• Sales, distribution, and market facilitation roles
• Youth livelihoods and employment programming

Facilitation and Coaching Skills

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate structured group training and coaching sessions for youth entrepreneurs.
• Ability to communicate business and finance concepts in a practical, simplified, and culturally appropriate manner, including for participants with low literacy.

Digital and Reporting Competency

• Strong working knowledge of:
• Microsoft Excel (data entry, formulas, analysis)
• Digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK)
• WhatsApp-based enterprise monitoring and field coordination
• Ability to produce high-quality field reports and support evidence-based tracking of participant progress.

Market Systems Exposure

• Experience engaging market actors (traders, processors, input suppliers, service providers) and supporting linkage-building between small enterprises and structured markets.

Additional Certification

• CPA Part II or higher, ACCA modules, or other recognised business/finance professional certification. Certificates and diplomas relevant to the above degree requirements.