Women’s Economic Empowerment
THE CHALLENGE: Despite decades of progress, global poverty reduction has slowed to a near standstill. Today over 700 million people live in extreme poverty, with over half that number residing in Africa. From increased instability to slow recovery from COVID-19, progress has stalled amid low growth, and new challenges threaten to increase these numbers. The multidimensional and multigenerational nature of poverty create a complex cycle that threatens to trap millions more if scaled action is not taken in our lifetime.
OUR SOLUTION: Our foundational poverty graduation model (REAP) is a proven, cost-effective, and sustainable solution to extreme poverty in Africa’s drylands. BOMA participants enroll in REAP program for 12 to 24 months, during which they learn valuable financial and life skills, launch sustainable businesses, and form savings groups with their peers — all with the guidance of a BOMA coach/mentor. Upon graduating (or exiting the program), participants have measurably grown their family’s savings, assets, and household income. REAP is now being scaled and adapted to maximize efficiency to transform the lives of three million women, youth, and refugees by 2027.
REAP
Key Impacts

Increased Savings
Empowering participants to save their earnings is a key aspect of BOMA’s work. Upon graduation from a REAP program, participants experience a 509% average increase in savings.

Increased Income
Following graduation, BOMA’s participants see their household income rise by 32% on average

Return on Investment
BOMA’s approach yields a ROI (or benefit-cost ratio) of 3.1, meaning that for every $1 invested in BOMA’s program, about $3 in benefits is delivered to the communities we serve.
These six steps comprise the base for each of our adapted solutions:

Programs
REAP Kenya
As part of BOMA’s largest programs to date, almost 30,000 individuals have been enrolled in our standard REAP-based programs, impacting over 140,000 people. These programs span six counties in Kenya and are the basis for the six other adapted models used across our portfolios.
EMIT
Entrepreneurship and Market Inclusion for Transformation (Borena zone, Ethiopia)
In partnership with Caritas Switzerland and funding from Cartier Philanthropy, 3,000 participants were enrolled in the standard REAP-based Entrepreneurship and Market Inclusion for Transformation (EMIT) program in the Borena Zone of Ethiopia in 2022. In 2024 September “graduation” ceremonies took place throughout the five woredas to celebrate the impressive fact that 99.5% of participants (2,986) met all the graduation criteria metrics. To combat the growing impacts of prolonged drought in the region, mentors and field officers have completed training on shock preparedness and business diversification with a focus on using savings to mitigate business losses.
Adapting to a changing world
BOMA has adapted our standard REAP product to serve populations impacted by the climate crisis, food insecurity and malnutrition, instability, mass displacement and conflict, and youth unemployment.
Climate Resilience
Government
Nutrition
Refugees
Youth
Featured in REAP
Help continue our legacy and impact the lives of 3 million women, youth and refugees by 2027.