Fresh Jobs at Mastercard Foundation

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION - AGRICULTURE 

Agri-food and rural SMEs are often a critical link in the economic transformation of a country as they allow farmers to commercialize their activities and lift themselves out of subsistence farming. The majority of the population across Africa depend on the agricultural sector for livelihoods and employment and agri-food and rural SMEs can help to provide a route out of poverty for smallholder farmers and rural communities while spurring economic diversification, sustainable development, creation of jobs and trade. 

Agriculture subject matter experts are required to ensure that the Foundation leverages the great opportunity for youth employment that the agricultural sector offers and support the development of country strategies. They work to help colleagues build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities related to inclusive agricultural economies in Africa and contributes to the Foundation’s learning agenda. 

Africa remains a continent where most people, and a large majority of disadvantaged people, live in rural areas and rely on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. Under the Rural and Agricultural Finance (RAF) initiative, the Foundation has committed over $175 million in funding to programs that provide financial services to smallholder farmers, provides access to essential inputs, and strengthens their capability to apply tested farming practices to improve the productivity of their farms. The initiative supports MFIs, banks, agribusinesses, MNOs, investment funds, and technology companies to provide these services to farmers. As a learning institution, the Foundation continues to generate and disseminate evaluation analysis to guide its future programming under its new Young Africa Works strategy and to benefit the wider financial inclusion industry. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Regional Director, the Program Lead, Agriculture will be responsible for a portfolio of existing Rural and Agricultural Finance programs and partnerships along with building new portfolio. They will work collaboratively with the programs team and other Foundation staff. 

The Program Lead, Agriculture will be expected to provide expertise to identify constraints that prevent agricultural systems from functioning effectively at the country level, including, those that prevent youth from developing skills relevant for work in the sector; agribusinesses from accessing the finance; capacity and markets needed to grow; the development and design of programs in the agricultural sector and incorporating the agricultural sector’s needs into country strategies.  

This individual will be expected to interact effectively with senior levels of partner and public sector organizations and public sector to advance the current work of the Foundation, while concurrently contributing to the Foundation’s country strategy development and new programs. 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Identify challenges and opportunities in the agri-food system that can be unlocked through education, labour and financial systems, to drive job growth. 
• Provide agricultural sector expertise to support Foundation country teams in the design and management of agricultural and agri-finance programs to scale country-level inclusive education, financial and labour systems in Africa. 
• Work closely with Country Team leads, Technical Expertise Groups, and other team members in the development or implementation of new programs, including co-creation of programs and due diligence of potential partners and projects 
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the agricultural and agri-finance sector, including climate change. 
• Lead and supervise small teams of colleagues and/or junior experts by providing coaching and support necessary for success and growth. 
• Manage current programs, distilling learnings for Foundation staff and country teams.  Includes oversight of day-to-day activities of particular programs or processes, conducting field visits, and reviewing project budgets. 
• Communicate progress and learnings from projects to foundation colleagues and the wider development community. 
• Contribute insights to the Foundation’s thought leadership on youth employment in Africa. 
• Work closely with the program and country teams to leverage synergies across programs and across geographies. 
• Build relationships with partner organizations, communities of practice, and global stakeholders. 
• Represent the Foundation and collaborate with key internal and external audiences. Identify and help overcome challenges and other barriers to team effectiveness.  
• Other duties as assigned. 

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business, Agricultural Economics and/or Financial Inclusion. 
• Ten (10) plus years of experience in financing agricultural companies and farmers is required. This experience could include project management and/or field experience working in developing countries. 
• Minimum of five (5) years leadership and management experience including managing staff and coaching, mentoring and providing feedback. 
• Experience working in commercial agricultural companies operational in Africa  
• Experience living and working in Africa. 
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the role of financial inclusion in economic growth and development, particularly in Africa, and as it relates to small holder farmers. 
• Understands market and systemic challenges to financial inclusion for rural and agricultural economics in Africa and best practices for addressing them, including M4P (Markets for the Poor) and facilitating market systems. 
• Experience and understanding in a variety of value chains (cash and food crops), the small businesses and SMEs along the value chain, and supply chain / logistics in the agri-food system. 
• Understanding of the role agri-food and rural SMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation for youth. 
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of agricultural markets in Africa and the systemic challenges leading to stagnant growth. Possesses understanding and knowledge of current trends and innovations in agri-finance for value chains, agri-SMEs, smallholder farmers and youth engaged in the agri-food system. Experience with global grant making, especially in designing market systems development programs.  
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills, the ability to think strategically and contribute as a thought partner in the Foundation’s strategy development 
• Demonstrates strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a large portfolio of assets. 
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community. 
• Demonstrates experience in translating technical advice into practical recommendations for program managers and implementers. Command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics. 
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects. 
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills required. 
• A proactive, engaged and a self-starter with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.   
• Bilingual English and French oral and written language skills preferred. Ability to speak a local language is highly preferred.
• Willing to travel up to 40% of the time. 
• You are flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• You possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• You possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.

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/or proof of education, as well as background checks (criminal, credit and social media) are essential conditions of employment.

If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the People and Culture Department at [email protected]. We will work with you to provide a positive recruitment experience in a confidential manner.

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DIGITAL ECONOMIES IN AFRICA  

Digital technologies will shape the future of work, both influencing a country’s labour market and offering levers to strengthen young people’s success. The Foundation’s strategy features a cross-cutting IDEA theme to help unlock the power of inclusive digital economies for youth in Africa.  To ensure this linkage is fully realized, the IDEA team primarily supports the development of country strategies and programs. The IDEA team provides technical support, helps colleagues build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities related to inclusive digital economies in Africa, and contributes to the Foundation’s learning agenda. 

Digital technologies are transforming every aspect of life for billions of people. Digitally-enabled businesses – local and global, small and large – create new work opportunities that require new skills and mechanisms to link appropriately-skilled workers with opportunities. Youth who currently use digital technologies can anticipate a lifelong journey to ensure their skills remain relevant to evolving needs and opportunities. Those who have yet to benefit from digital inclusion need support and encouragement to begin to climb the ladder of basic digital literacy and skills. Lack of meaningful progress towards digital skills leaves millions of young Africans at risk of exclusion from opportunities in an increasingly digital world. It limits the ability for teachers or students to use digital solutions effectively within the educational systems, as well as the competitiveness of workers wishing to join local, regional and global ICT labor markets. Ultimately, this constrains the ability of firms to implement new technology and create new jobs.

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Program Lead, Digital Economy will report to the Regional Head of Western, Central and Northern Africa. In this role, the Program Lead will also work collaboratively with other Foundation staff, such as Program country team members who are developing country strategies and other program team members in other technical areas (e.g. education finance, agriculture, MSME, etc.).

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Work closely with the Country Team staff to achieve team goals.
• Provide digital technology expertise to support the design and management of programs that leverage technology to scale country-level inclusive education, financial and labor systems in Africa.
• Diagnose and contribute expertise on digital enabling environment and policy to inform country strategy design, partnership development, and monitoring processes.
• Work closely with the program and country teams to leverage synergies across programs and across geographies.
• Support and/or Manage current or future programs as appropriate, distilling learnings for the country and technical teams as well as wider Foundation staff.
• Contribute insights to the Foundation’s thought leadership on digital skills development in Africa by writing blogs, attending and presenting at conferences and identifying other opportunities to share and deepen learning.
• Assist in expanding the Foundation team’s capacity relating to digital skills development and digital policy, by sharing learning, facilitating training and supporting country teams.
• Support the design and delivery of appropriate mechanisms to monitor effectiveness and impact of skills development interventions in close collaboration with the Impact team.
• Participate in governance activities related to programs, such as investment committees, advisory committees or other stakeholder fora to provide oversight or elevate and leverage learnings.
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, key stakeholders at country-level, communities of practice and global stakeholders.

WHO YOU ARE 

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in education, business, or a technology-related field.
• Ten (10) plus years of experience working with the private and non-profit sectors, particularly in a role relating to digital technology and skills development in Africa.
• Experience in a commercial function in at least one relevant digital technology industry focused on low income customers – e.g. product management, strategy, design.
• Familiarity with relevant technologies and sectors with potential for emerging markets - software solutions, app or platform providers, venture capital, incubators, digital financial services providers, e-government, data analytics, etc.
• Experience successfully procuring and managing consultants and technology vendors and suppliers to achieve goals.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
• Command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics
• Experience working with the non-profit or public sectors, particularly in a role relating to digital technology.
• Experience with entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship.
• Demonstrated knowledge of African social, economic and political contexts.
• Experience living and/or working in Africa.
• Excellent presentation and listening skills.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills in English required.
• You are flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
• Excellent prioritization and time management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Good organizational skills and demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint, Word and Excel).
• High emotional intelligence and comfort with ambiguity.
• Knowledge of digital inclusion policy is an asset.
• You possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• You possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Foundation and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. We appreciate your interest, and advise that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly. 

Completion of satisfactory business references, background checks (criminal and credit) and proof of education are essential conditions of employment.  

If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the People and Culture Department. We will work with you to provide a positive recruitment experience in a confidential manner.  

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THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION

The Finance team is a key partner to colleagues in Programs and Impact in implementing and managing programs with implementing partners across Africa. Together with Legal & Compliance, Finance works collaboratively to execute and manage partner contracts, develop partner relationships, and meet regulatory requirements, through financial analysis, due diligence, and audit/compliance reviews.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Head of Finance and Accounting, Northern, Central and Western Africa the Finance Lead will oversee all financial aspects of our program partnerships in country, including due diligence, reporting and contracting. This is an opportunity to influence and support our growth across Africa in co-ordination with our head office in Toronto. The successful candidate will also be the primary Finance contact for the Program Leads in Ghana. As such, the individual must be highly motivated, innovative, and results-oriented, with strong listening skills and the ability to build effective working relationships. 

As the scope and scale of our work across Africa grows, the Finance team structure and processes will also change. The ability to be flexible and adaptable, and a willingness to support wherever needed, are critical to our joint success.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Manage the full cycle of program partner contracts, i.e. Expression of Interest (EOI), proposal, contract approval, program execution and monitoring, and program completion.
• Guide and train external program partners on all financial aspects of contract execution, including budgeting and reporting, due diligence, and Canadian regulatory requirements.
• Provide financial expertise and advice internally to the Foundation’s Programs team on the development and implementation of comprehensive programming strategies.
• Provide ad-hoc data and support for learning and evaluation activities, including analysis of program outputs and value-for-money.
• Maintain accurate and timely financial documentation and data, and report on contract commitments, disbursements, and cash flow projections.
• Monitor program spend against budget, and provide analysis and recommendations on proposed changes.
• Accountable for compliance with local and international financial regulations and requirements, e.g. Canada Revenue Agency standards, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws, etc.
• Travel (within Ghana, across Africa and to Canada) 15-20%.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

WHO YOU ARE

• An ICA-Ghana or equivalent (e.g. UK ACA, South Africa CA, etc.), with a university degree in accounting, audit, finance or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of progressive financial roles within large and/or global organizations. Previous work in the development sector an asset.
• Exceptional business, analytical and project management skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
• Excellent communicator, able to establish and maintain strong relations with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Results driven and self-disciplined, with a strong sense of team and common purpose to achieve ambitious goals.
• Flexible, intellectually curious and open, you are comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas and willing to learn and change.
• Able to formulate and develop a new or creative approach to a problem and inspire others on the team to do so as well.
• Proficient in MS Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Fluency in English required; bilingual (French and English) preferred.
• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• You are flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• You possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• You possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.

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/or proof of education, as well as background checks (criminal, credit and social media) are essential conditions of employment.

If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected]. We will work with you to provide a positive recruitment experience in a confidential manner