Key Details
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of Kenya
- Daily Rate: KES 15,000 per day
- Term: Up to 90 days of level of effort in first year
- Application Deadline: February 23, 2026
About Youth Challenge International & Kayana Create
Youth Challenge International (YCI) is accelerating youth innovation for good. Together with young leaders and innovators, we are creating a better future where people, planet, and profit can thrive. We are going all in on the bold ideas, skills, and ventures that will get us there. In over 30 countries, YCI has teamed up with young people and partner organizations to transform complex challenges into sustainable solutions; collectively, we learn fast, fail smart, and turn insights into action. We believe that a better world can – and will – be built by the next generation.
YCI has a proven track record of successful programs, strong partnerships and a deep commitment to youth economic empowerment. With a solid foundation in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana, YCI has built youth entrepreneurship ecosystems in collaboration with governments, funders and local partners.
To further expand our impact, YCI is exploring Kenya as a strategic and programming hub for innovation and enterprise development. We believe that by anchoring operations in Kenya, YCI can enhance resource mobilization, knowledge-sharing and ecosystem building, while ensuring sustainable impact across East Africa.
This expansion is being undertaken in partnership with Kayana Create, an entrepreneurship development organization whose mission is to enable and empower female entrepreneurs through enterprise support, capacity building, market access and ecosystem collaboration. Working collaboratively, Kayana Create and YCI are aligning their shared commitment to youth and women’s economic empowerment to strengthen enterprise development and innovation ecosystems in Kenya and the region.
As part of this joint effort we are seeking Business Development Consultant(s) to support growth in Kenya and regional expansion.
Scope of the Consultancy
This consultancy will focus on:
- Support the development of a strategic roadmap for Kayana Create and YCI’s growth, outlining future partnership, programming and innovation models for business development;
- Identify and respond to funding opportunities, including leading proposal development processes, funding partnership development and financing solutions;
- Strengthening regional partnerships by engaging key stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, NGOs and regional networks.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate(s) should possess:
- 10+ years proven experience in business development, market research, program design and proposal development, specifically in Kenya and East Africa;
- A strong understanding of youth economic ecosystems, including employment, entrepreneurship and enterprise development in Kenya and surrounding economies;
- Strong knowledge of donor priorities, funding mechanisms and regional economic trends and private sector ecosystems;
- Demonstrated success in securing funding from institutional donors, private sector partners and impact investors;
- Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement skills
How to apply
Application Deadline: Monday, February 23, 2026
Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis; we highly encourage early submissions. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those short-listed will be contacted. No phone calls or emails about the position can be accepted.
Application Submission: Click the button below to start your application
Within the application form, please submit your CV and cover letter as a single PDF document, maximum four (4) pages, saved in the following format: First Name Last Name_BD Consultant Kenya.
YCI encourages applications from all backgrounds. To achieve our goals, we rely on the unique experiences and viewpoints of our staff, volunteers and partners. We understand that diverse perspectives are required for an inclusive culture to thrive – a culture that is respectful and welcoming to all. We are committed to creating a place of inclusion for employees, candidates, volunteers, partners and participants of all backgrounds, ages, religions, races, gender identities, physical abilities and sexual orientations.
YCI uses a people-focused approach to evaluating applicants. We do not utilize artificial intelligence during the recruitment process.
