Consultancy for Life Skills and Mental Health for Job Creation and Employment of Young Women and Men 18-35 Years in 15 ASAL Counties of Kenya 14 views0 applications

1. About BOMA

BOMA (The BOMA Project) is an NGO focused on ending extreme poverty in Africa’s drylands by empowering vulnerable women, youth, and refugees with economic inclusion programs, enabling them to build small businesses, enhance financial literacy, and increase resilience to crises like climate change, using a data-driven, proven poverty graduation model that creates sustainable livelihoods. BOMA works in multiple African countries, combining technology with community-led approaches to foster entrepreneurship and integrate participants into formal financial systems.

2. About CASHA
The Creating Shared Value in the Livestock Sector with Young People in Kenya’s ASALs (CASHA) is a five-year initiative that equips financially disadvantaged youth, especially young women, with the skills, finance, market access and climate-smart tools needed to build dignified work in livestock and related agri-enterprises across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The project calls for the deliberate inclusion of young women (80%), persons with disabilities (5%) and IDPs/refugees (5%) targeting 300,000 young women and men (18-35 years) , and aims to generate 200,000 dignified jobs, with a strong women-centric design (at least 70–100% women participation in selected value chains) and a Challenge Fund that allocates 90% of grants to young women. The overall impact of the project aims at improving the quality of life of young women and men in the ASAL areas and contributing to the socio-economic wellbeing of communities.

The project is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and delivered by a consortium led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with SNV, ILRI, BOMA, KLMC, and E4Impact as partners. CASHA operates in 15 ASAL counties divided into four clusters and coordinated through FAO led steering and cluster groups: 1) Lower Eastern Cluster: Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Makueni and Kitui; 2) North Eastern Cluster: Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera; 3) Upper Eastern Cluster: Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo and Laikipia; 4) North Rift Cluster: Turkana, West Pokot and Baringo.
On the ground, CASHA delivers: (i) tailored technical, entrepreneurial and leadership training via CBOs/VBAs, FFS/FBS, TVETs and mentorship, with ILRI leading gender-transformative content and learning agendas, in feed and fodder, livestock production and value addition; (ii) market systems linkages through cooperatives and digital platforms; (iii) expanded access to finance via financial partners, VSLAs, start-up capital, linkages to gender responsive FSPs and a Challenge Fund managed by E4Impact; (iv) enabling policies and services, such as on site- childcare, dignity kits, and gender-responsive training, to reduce structural barriers facing young women, refugees, and persons with disabilities (Gender and Social Inclusion) and (v) Climate action through promotion of sustainable rangeland management and innovation, resilient feed systems, community feed reserves and policy support for gender-responsive climate-smart agriculture, while strengthening access to early warning and weather information.

The project has the following 3 outcomes, which are designed to achieve the overall objectives:

• Outcome 1. Young women and men earn decent incomes from entrepreneurial activities within the livestock and other related sectors in the targeted ASAL regions.

  This outcome will enable women and men to assume a proactive role in entrepreneurial operations along the livestock value chain and other related businesses and prepare them to deliver specialized market services that can respond to changing market needs and demands. It will also enrich their productive input and output market contribution to capture new opportunities along the livestock value chain and broader agrifood systems. The component will also improve their accessibility to and use of a wider range of gender-specific financial services and products and, consequently, their economic stability and ability to drive inclusive development in ASAL communities.

• Outcome 2. Young women take up economic opportunities and thrive in the livestock value chain.

  This will have a positive impact in providing equal contribution of the young women and men in the livestock value chain and eliminate gender based limitations by reducing the burden on women on household chores and childcare. It will also institutionalize the agency of women by encouraging them to engage in effective decision-making, become leaders and entrepreneurs in the livestock industry, thereby increasing inclusivity and gender equality in the ASAL society.

• Outcome 3. Enhanced resilience of young women, men and communities in ASAL areas through improved climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

  This aspect will drive the implementation of gender-transformative, climatically resilient practices and innovations among young women and men to provide them with the resilience needed to adjust to the effects of climate change in the livestock sector. Simultaneously, it will underpin the institutionalization of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) policies on a county level, such that the enabling frameworks are present to support resilience, inclusiveness, and long-term change in ASAL communities.

  About the consultancy
  Intermediate Outcome 1 of the CASHA Project focuses on strengthening entrepreneurship and technical competencies among young women and men to enable their transition from unemployment and underemployment into job creators and growth-oriented agripreneurs within the livestock sector.

  In the ASAL counties, many young people face structural and socio-cultural barriers that limit their effective participation in livestock value chains. Among the most critical constraints is a negative or risk-averse mindset that undermines self-belief, agency, aspiration, and confidence. Low personal initiative, fear of failure, limited exposure to role models, and entrenched perceptions that livestock is a low-status or subsistence activity significantly reduce youth engagement in commercially viable livestock enterprises.

  Without deliberate mindset transformation and agency-building interventions, investments in technical and business skills alone may not translate into enterprise creation that will generate jobs, business growth towards our monthly target of Ksh 17,500, or sustainable employment outcomes. CASHA will deliberately integrate mindset transformation with technical and enterprise development support enabling participants actively participate in livestock value chains as productive entrepreneurs, employers, and income earners, contributing to dignified and sustainable work opportunities. This initiative is embedded strongly in the Personal Initiative Agripreneurship training conducted for business coaches and cluster leads.

  Under CASHA, BOMA is tasked in developing life skills and mental health curriculum and ToTs training manual. This curriculum is expected to inculcate right mindset and attitude that will translate into behaviors and practices required to transform unemployed youths to be job creators and entrepreneurs in the livestock and agri related value chains.

  Objective of the SoW
  This SoW intends to initiate the process of developing CASHA lifeskills and Mental Health Curriculum and ToTs trainer manual through BOMA
  Specific objective of the Consultancy
   Review CASHA Project documents to align consultancy deliverables with project theory of change and delivery approaches
   Review existing lifeskills and mental health material from BOMA and other consortium partners including CASHA Project communication strategy, Youth agenda, CASHA inclusion agenda,
   Undertake stakeholder’s analysis both at consortium level and targeted key stakeholders at county levels (informal, formal and relevant private sector actors to inform core lifeskills and mental health relevant for CASHA
   Facilitate youth round table at county level to undertake a situational analysis of existing gaps, challenges, opportunities and inform core lifeskills, mental health focus areas aligned to CASHA project
   Develop and submit Lifeskills and mental health gender responsive curriculum based on CASHA overall objective and theory of change, Monitoring and Evaluation framework
   Develop and submit gender responsive Lifeskills and Mental health Trainers manual (ToTs manual) that includes localized case studies.
   Facilitate ToTs training as per the ToTs training program
   Submit ToTs training report with entry and exit ToTs participant’s behaviors clearly captured.

  3. Proposed Methodology
  The independent consultant will adopt a mixed method integrating participatory approaches during primary and secondary data and information gathering, synthesis and analysis. Where necessary and as approved by BOMA during inception meeting, the consultant will integrate virtual consultations and KIIs.

  4. Scope of the Consultancy
  a) Geographic Scope: The consultancy will cover selected sub-counties in Samburu, Isiolo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, and Marsabit.
  b) Sector Scope: The consultancy and deliverables (core foundational lifeskillls and mental health will be aligned to CASHA Livestock and agri related value chains of interest that will catalyze job creation and employment opportunities.

  5. Target audience: Young women and men aged 18-35 years, Refugees and Persons with disability within the age bracket, CASHA staff and consortium partners, financial service providers, religious leaders, market actors, community leaders and policy makers. The consultant will sample respondents and KIIs from the target audience.

  6. Proposed Duration: 45 Days.

  7. Ethical Considerations & Data Protection
  • The consultancy activities will be conducted in line with CASHA data protection and safeguarding and ethical research policies as well as BOMA organization related policies and procedures.
  • Participation will be voluntary and based on informed consent, with participants clearly informed about the purpose of the activity and the use of their information.
  • Special care will be taken when engaging young women, persons with disabilities, refugees, and other vulnerable groups to uphold do-no-harm principles, safety, and dignity. Personal data will be collected only where necessary, securely stored, and accessible only to authorized personnel.
  • Data will be anonymized during analysis and reported in aggregate form to prevent identification of individuals, in accordance with BOMA’s data protection and confidentiality requirements.

  8. Expected Deliverables: The following are the key deliverables for this assignment:
  1. Inception Report: An inception report (maximum 10 pages) due 5 days after contract signing detailing the proposed methodology and data collection approach and tools, including the document review checklist, schedule of activities, and a detailed work plan aligned to the objectives.
  2. Draft Lifeskills and mental health gender responsive curriculum and Trainers of Trainers (ToT) training manual due 25th day after approval of inception report
  3. Stakeholders (Consortium Partners) validation workshop (Virtual) due 3 days after submission of draft curriculum and ToTs manual
  4. Final Lifeskills and Mental health curriculum and ToTs training manual 5 days after stakeholder’s validation workshop
  5. Facilitation of CASHA ToTs training
  6. Submission of CASHA Project ToTs training report.

  9. Clients’ responsibilities
  Based on the approved work plan, BOMA will facilitate logistical movements of the independent consultant, undertake mobilization of required stakeholders, young women and men selected for FGDs, mobilization and facilitation costs for participants during ToTs training and any other costs that shall be agreed during inception meeting.

  10. Payment milestones
  • 30% upon approval of Inception Report
  • 50% upon approval of Final Curriculum and ToT Manual
  • 20% upon submission and approval of ToT Training Report

  11. Qualifications: The independent consultant should meet the following minimum requirements:
  • A post graduate degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work, Behavioral Sciences, Education (Curriculum Development), or Mental Health.
  • Registration with a relevant professional or regulatory body (where applicable).
  • Minimum 8 years of demonstrated experience in developing structured training curricula or manuals.
  • Proven experience designing life skills, mental wellness, or resilience-building curricula for young people (18–35 years) aligned to job creation or employment .
  • Demonstrated experience working in ASAL counties, with understanding of socio-economic, social cultural, climatic, mobility, and conflict-related vulnerabilities affecting young women and men, persons with disabilities and refugees.
  • Experience integrating safeguarding, mental health referral pathways, and inclusion frameworks.
  • Strong analytical, reporting, and presentation skills.

  12. Evaluation Criteria
  • Understanding of ToR and methodology – 30%
  • Relevant experience in lifeskills and mental health curriculum and training manuals development, – 30%
  • Financial proposal – 20%
  • Inclusion frameworks for young women, persons with disability and refugees – 20%

Technical evaluation will cover understanding of the ToR and methodology, relevant experience and experience in inclusion frameworks. Only proposals scoring at least 70% on the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.