Knowledge Product Writers-Part time (12 Months Consultancy)

ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION

We are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.

To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.

Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work.

UNDERSTANDING CANADA PROGRAMS AT THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation has begun working within Canada in partnership with Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions to listen, learn, and best understand how we can act in meaningful ways. The EleV strategy was co-created with Indigenous communities, young people, and partners to enable 30,000 Indigenous youth to complete their education and transition to dignified work aligned with their values and aspirations.

As reflected in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, education is a key driver of improved socio-economic well-being. Through building partnerships with Indigenous communities, we look to expand our initiative ultimately helping to support a generation of transformative Indigenous young leaders who will be change agents within their communities. We believe that by setting a bold target, we will encourage engagement across sectors and create momentum that will elevate the strengths and opportunities of Indigenous youth. In keeping with our approach, Indigenous communities and young people will be the drivers of this transformation. The program will promote innovations to address longer-term systemic change to achieve economic prosperity and social well-being within Indigenous communities.

The EleV team oversees current and emerging partnerships related to Indigenous education. Consistent with our overall vision and Youth Africa Works strategy, we will share learnings and opportunities to connect across the work of the Foundation. While operating in distinct contexts, the centrality of youth voice and vision, affirmation of culture and identity, and priority to enhance community capacity for self-determination are common threads upon which our work is strengthened and reinforced.

UNDERSTANDING & MEASURING IMPACT  

The Foundation has developed a comprehensive strategy for understanding and measuring Impact through a more holistic approach. In this context, Impact spans from the effects that our investments trigger directly in creating work opportunities, upwards to the significant changes and outcomes derived from the influence that the Mastercard Foundation Programs have on the institutional and system level changes in policies, practices and larger investments that open-up for expanded impact, at scale, on youth employment. 

Working with young women and men in Africa represents a unique opportunity to develop, implement, and learn from programming and influencing activities in ways that value African and Indigenous ways of being and knowing. Impact measurement and the associated narratives will be guided by youth-focused lenses and located within the nexus of nationally owned strategies and global best practices and thought leadership. The methodologies, tools and insights throughout this journey will be determined and co-created in partnership with youth and other Indigenous vectors of knowledge in communities and countries where we work. 

 If you are an experienced professional writer ready to build something new and increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Communications and Change Lead, Knowledge Management, the Consultants will be part of a roster of part time writers and will participate in projects to harvest, document and package knowledge products related to how we program. These products will further Young Africa Works and other Foundation’s program objectives. Their efforts will contribute to the Knowledge Management mandate of ensuring knowledge flows efficiently and effectively to the right people, at the right time, in the right way by harvesting, documenting, and packaging knowledge on priority topics. They may also be required to take on assignments that respond to emerging enterprise needs.

 The successful person will be based in Canada or any of our 7 listed offices in Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria or Senegal)

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Leverage standard templates to develop content for various knowledge Products from our programs, including Learning Briefs, Learning Reports, Practice Notes, Fact Sheets, FAQs, Video Scripts, etc. 
• Repurpose, document and package knowledge related to our program processes.
• Extract explicit, procedural knowledge from unstructured sources (e.g., interview transcripts, diagrams, presentations) and diagrams (e.g., process maps).
• Write in a consistent tone and voice, in plain language, using familiar and parallel sentence structures to ease user comprehension and enable uptake.
• Become familiar with different audiences, use cases and knowledge needs so writing and knowledge products can be tailored.
• Provide a range of editing services (e.g., substantive, structural, copy, proof) efficiently and accurately.
• Constructively review, recommend improvements, and enhance content developed by other writers.
• Repackage existing content into standardized Knowledge Products.

Other areas of support include:

• Contribute ideas to the content development planning and workflow, supporting a unified knowledge strategy. 
• Contribute and advance publication standards, including style, voice, look, and standards of cited sources and evidence.
• Maintain adherence to the design principles and style guidelines while continuously improving standards collaboratively and creatively.  

WHO YOU ARE

• A Degree in communication, global development, the social sciences, education, public policy, or another related field is an asset.
• Strong English writing skills with the ability to create engaging, clear, and error-free content across various formats.
• Creativity in generating innovative ideas that the organization can use to develop unique content concepts that resonate with the target audience.
• Creativity in generating innovative content ideas that resonate with the target audience.
• Proficient in translating technical information into plain language and consuming, understanding, triangulating, and synthesizing formal and informal research on a variety of subjects to ensure content accuracy and credibility.
• Exceptional editing skills with a keen eye for detail and consistency in written content.
• Effective organizational skills for managing multiple content projects and adhering to deadlines.
• Editorial training experience with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and tailor teaching to different learning styles.
• Understanding of editorial planning concepts and technology integration to enhance content development.
• Energetic, independent, and self-motivated individual with a solution-based approach, demonstrating innovation, integrity, quality, creativity, flexibility, and resilience.
• Possesses professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision, especially to research and learning that is non-extractive and promote reciprocity and restitution.

 Deadline for Applications is 7th July 2024

 Mastercard Foundation (the “Foundation”) values and respects your privacy. By submitting an application for this opportunity, you hereby agree to the Foundation’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy (available at https://mastercardfdn.org/privacy/). Please note that the Foundation may share your personal information with third-party agencies that support the Foundation’s recruitment activities, and such third-party agencies may contact you directly regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Foundation’s Privacy Officer at the address indicated in its Privacy Policy.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
Follow the Foundation on Twitter at @MastercardFdn

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