About Rungano-Ndota Initiative (RNI)

Ngira nkugire, Mfasha ngufashe

Rungano-Ndota Initiative (RNI) is a Rwandan youth organisation based in Ruhango District, Southern Province. We build communities of trust where young people aged 16–26 from the poorest households break out of poverty and become entrepreneurs and leaders. They are proof for the next generation, and for the world, that it can be done. Rungano-Ndota means “a dream generation”, and that is what our youth are becoming.

RNI was founded by nine young leaders from Ruhango District and officially began its work there in 2017. Led by young Rwandans who know poverty and hardship from their own lives, RNI is shaped by a simple idea: trust and belonging come first, then self-leadership, then capital. Youth join RNI from local government lists of the poorest households, on need alone, with no screening. They include young single mothers, youth returning from rehabilitation and youth with disabilities.

Each young person walks a two-year Core Program journey and then joins Inyenyeri, RNI's lifelong community of graduates who give back. The journey rests on four foundations: Personal Wellness, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship Development and Ecosystem Connection.

In 10 years, 550 youth have walked this journey with RNI. RNI's data shows:

In 2026, RNI walks alongside 300 youth in the Core Program and 250 Inyenyeri members.

Our principles 
Trust · Patience · Youth in the driver's seat · Communal role modelling · Co-creation · Holistic & experiential learning

Join us. At RNI, you won't just fill a post. You'll walk alongside young people that others wrote off as they become the people their communities count on.

Learn more: www.runganondota.org 

Job Description

Business Coach at Rungano-Ndota Initiative (RNI)

The Business Coach will be based in Ruhango District and will work under the supervision of the Program Coordinator.

1. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL RUNGANO-NDOTA PROGRAM STAFF

• Cultivate constructive engagement within the Rungano-Ndota (RNI) community, fostering positive relationships with youth participants.
• Contribute to the execution of Rungano Program Days, Alumni Forums, RNI Business Bootcamp, Business Idea Generation Day and virtual events in collaboration with Rwanda Youth Partnership, ensuring seamless coordination and facilitation.
• Serve as a mentor/Advisor to individual youth, offering guidance and support, including an annual home visit.
• Actively engage in Monitoring and Evaluation processes, providing valuable insights and feedback to enhance program effectiveness.
• Participate in Staff Development Retreats, and be available for weekend or overnight commitments away from home during the Annual RNI&RYP Leadership Exchange, as required.
• Collaborate with colleagues, offering support through constructive feedback and mutual assistance in fulfilling individual responsibilities.

2. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COACH ROLE

The Coach shall:

2.1 Youth Economic Empowerment & Business Development

• Coach youth to start, formalize, and strengthen sustainable businesses.
• Support youth in pursuing viable pathways toward financial independence through TVET education, entrepreneurship and/or employment.
• Monitor business performance and provide continuous improvement support.
• Encourage youth to create jobs for themselves and others.
• Promote responsible financial management and business discipline, i.e. saving culture, opening Bank account, recording business transactions,…

2.2 Loan Readiness, Access & Responsible Recovery Support

• Prepare eligible youth to access loan opportunities responsibly.
• Ensure youth clearly understand loan terms, repayment obligations, and financial accountability.
• Monitor loan utilization and repayment progress.
• Provide targeted follow-up and corrective coaching for youth facing repayment challenges.
• Reinforce financial discipline and accountability culture among youth.

2.3 Holistic Development & Personal Wellbeing

• Advise/encourage youth in maintaining holistic development alongside economic growth, including:
• Access to health insurance.
• Personal hygiene and wellbeing practices.
• Awareness and responsible use of reproductive health information.
• Foster growth mindset, resilience, openness, and healthy relationships with mentors and support networks.
• Monitor key personal development indicators alongside economic progress.

2.4 Leadership Development & Peer Accountability

• Encourage youth to take leadership roles within their businesses, groups, and communities.
• Promote peer-to-peer support, collaboration, and mutual accountability.
• Facilitate mentorship and structured peer learning opportunities.
• Encourage youth to support others individually or through collective initiatives.

2.5 Program Engagement & Ecosystem Participation

• Ensure active youth participation in:

–RNI core program activities.

–Inyenyeri community development activities.

–Community engagement initiatives.

–RNI events and ecosystem opportunities.

• Promote internal economic circulation by encouraging youth to buy from and sell to fellow RNI youth businesses, to collaborate as entrepreneurs as well as leaders.

2.6 Opportunity Mapping & Ecosystem Linkages

• Identify and connect youth to relevant economic, training, and leadership opportunities aligned with their interests and growth stage.
• Strengthen linkages between youth, local actors (including Twese for Rungano community), institutions, and market opportunities.
• Support structured pathways that move youth from training such as TVET, etc. to opportunity access to measurable progress.

2.7 Monitoring, Tracking & Performance Accountability

• Track youth progress against agreed development pathways and performance milestones.
• Maintain accurate and updated records of youth economic, leadership, and wellbeing indicators.
• Provide regular progress reports aligned with organizational performance expectations.
• Identify early warning signs of stagnation or risk and initiate corrective support.

2.8 Identification of Special Needs & Targeted Intervention

• Identify youth with special needs, vulnerabilities, or high-risk circumstances.
• Develop personalized coaching pathways based on individual circumstances.
• Escalate/advocate complex cases requiring additional organizational or partner support.

2.9 Other Duties

• Perform any other reasonable duties related to the role, as assigned by management, provided such duties are consistent with the Coach’s position and organizational objectives.

3. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS

All Rungano-Ndota staff:

• Possess a reliable and clear teamwork communication style with colleagues, youth, and external partners.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the barriers faced by youth who are not in formal education and employment, combined with a genuine belief in their potential to succeed.
• Show the ability to build positive, trusting, and empowering relationships with vulnerable youth.
• Demonstrate high integrity and ethical behavior in all professional responsibilities.
• Be Rwandan by nationality with a strong understanding of the Rwandan social and community context.
• Be young themselves, because the work requires flexibility, travel, and working with youth.
• Have good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Be fluent in spoken and written Kinyarwanda and English.

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Development Studies, Social Work or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of experience in business coaching, enterprise development, microfinance or savings group support, or youth economic empowerment, preferably working with vulnerable youth in an NGO or community setting.

Skills and knowledge:

• Accurate record-keeping, data tracking in Excel and clear report writing.
• Good knowledge of local opportunities for youth, such as TVET, district programmes, financial institutions and markets.
• Ability to discuss personal wellbeing topics, such as health insurance, hygiene and reproductive health, with youth in a respectful and confidential way.
• Strong coaching, mentoring and group facilitation skills, including with cooperatives and peer groups.
• Understanding of loans, savings and financial literacy, and experience following up on loan use and repayment.
• Practical knowledge of small business management: business planning, basic bookkeeping, costing, pricing and marketing.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Ruhango District, including home visits.

An added advantage:

• Good understanding of business in agriculture and livestock sectors, including cooperative management and entrepreneurship.
• Experience supporting youth with special needs or in high-risk circumstances, and referring complex cases to the right services.

4. BENEFITS

• In compensation for service rendered, RUNGANO-NDOTA INITIATIVE will offer a monthly salary, health & maternity insurance and pension savings insurance;
• All staff benefit from different training organized by the project
• All staff also benefit from collaboration and coaching discussions with international colleagues whom we meet through our US-based partners

5. HOW TO APPLY

• Interested candidates should submit their application through info@runganondota.org . Include a cover letter and CV, along with a one-page handwritten sketch discussing the scenario below. In your cover letter, you are welcome to explain any parts of your professional, academic, or personal life experience that truly motivate you to pursue this job.
• Deadline: November 16th, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test!

6. SCENARIO FOR YOUR ONE-PAGE SKETCH (PLEASE USE ONLY YOUR HANDWRITING)

IMPORTANT: The sketch must be written in your own handwriting. Scan it or take a clear photo and attach it to your application email. Applications with a typed sketch, or a sketch that is not written in the applicant's own handwriting, will not be selected.

Uwase (a fictional name) is 21 years old and a young mother from one of the poorest households in Kinihira Sector, Ruhango District. In her first year with RNI she joined a savings group and completed the Business Bootcamp. She and two other RNI youth from Kinihira each received their own individual interest-free loan from RNI. They then agreed to put their money together and start a pig-rearing business as a group. This is an informal group business, not a registered cooperative. The business did well for six months. Now two pigs have died of disease, the three members disagree about how to share the work, the costs and the profits, and Uwase has missed her last two loan repayments. She has also stopped coming to Rungano gatherings.

In one page, describe how you would coach Uwase and her group over the next three months. Please cover:

1. How you would first approach Uwase and rebuild trust.
2. The practical steps you would take to get the pig business back on track (animal health, records and sales).
3. How you would help the three members agree on their roles and on how they share the work, costs and profits.
4. How you would make sure each member keeps up with their own individual loan, even though the business is shared.
5. How you would know that your coaching is working.

Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply!

RUNGANO-NDOTA INITIATIVE is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to the equal treatment of all employees without regard to race, religion, gender, physical disability, or any other basis protected by Rwandan law.