Manchester, VT–The BOMA Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit that implements a high-impact, gender-focused poverty graduation program in the drought-threatened arid lands of East Africa, announced the appointment of Susan Bornstein as Deputy Director. BOMA provides ultra-poor women with seed capital and financial and life skills training so that they can start a business and establish savings in order to pay for food, school fees and medical care for their families.
Ms. Bornstein was most recently at Land O’ Lakes International Development, where she served as director of technical services and strategic partnerships. Prior to this, Susan worked for 17 years with the international development non-profit TechnoServe, in roles including senior director for program development, interim country director for Kenya, and deputy director of Africa operations. While at TechnoServe, she developed and managed innovative public-private partnerships between agribusinesses and emerging market farmers and small and growing businesses. Susan was a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and has also supported agriculture development programs in Asia and Africa at VOCA. She holds an MA in International Transactions from George Mason University and a BA in International Studies from Michigan State University.
“It is very exciting to have someone with Susan’s experience and expertise join our team,” said Kathleen Colson, Founder and CEO of the BOMA Project. “She is a passionate advocate for developing innovative solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, and we are very pleased to have her leadership skills as BOMA expands to new countries and regions over the next five years.”
“BOMA’s unique poverty graduation program has been proven to have a sustainable effect on vulnerable populations,” Ms. Bornstein notes. “Their model is a road map for helping women and families achieve resiliency, and I am thrilled to be part of this passionate, inspired team.”
Ms. Bornstein is based in Arlington, VA, and will travel frequently to East Africa in her new role.