Program Partner, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Growth

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.

If you are an experienced professional in entrepreneurship and enterprise growth programs looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Head, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Growth, the Program Partner will be responsible for designing and implementing programs to enable dignified work for the youth. S/he will support the Program leads and partners in program development, foster an understanding of entrepreneurship and employment issues, and contribute to the Foundation’s country strategy. The role includes engaging with ecosystem stakeholders to advance the Young Africa Works strategy and representing the Foundation at events.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Assist in identifying and selecting implementing partners aligned with Mastercard Foundation partnership processes.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with partner organizations focusing on entrepreneurship and youth employment in Rwanda.
• Conduct regular check-in meetings and quality assessments with implementing partners to ensure program delivery and milestone achievement.
• Conduct organizational assessments to evaluate implementation capacity and identify Technical Assistance (TA) needs.
• Represent the Foundation in collaborative efforts with stakeholders to achieve positive impact.
• Support the execution of partnership projects to meet targets outlined in agreements.
• Contribute insights to thought leadership on youth employment in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
• Engage in learning networks and gender inclusion events, representing the Foundation’s interests and initiatives.
• Provide support to Program Leads in managing current and future programs, including partner coordination and reporting.
• Design and implement effective projects within Foundation sectors through collaboration with enabling and implementing partners.
• Integrate insights and data into program design and implementation within partnership frameworks.
• Support the adaptation of Foundation programming and learning to specific country contexts, leveraging insights and learning from partnerships.

 WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, development studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in a similar organization.
• Relevant professional qualification and membership in a relevant professional body.
• Expertise in designing and managing entrepreneurship solutions across various sectors and stages of development.
• Experience in Rwanda’s youth entrepreneurship and employment programs, with knowledge of local social, economic, regulatory, business, and political contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in project design and management, particularly in enterprise development and MSME support.
• Excellent understanding of MSME segments in Africa, from early-stage start-ups to growth-stage SMEs, and the challenges limiting their growth, specifically in Rwanda.
• Understanding MSMEs’ economic role in job creation and economic transformation.
• Strong budgeting skills and ability to manage commitments effectively.
• Project management proficiency, including handling multi-stakeholder projects.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and agility in executing diverse job duties with multiple deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills to communicate across cultures and distill complex information into accessible formats.
• Commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is July 31, 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

NB: To avoid missing email communication about your application, please check your spam/junk folder and mark our emails as “not junk”.