Latest Vacancies at Mastercard Foundation

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 Finance & Accounting Lead In country, the Finance Partner will oversee all financial aspects of our program partnerships in country, including due diligence, budgeting, controls, reporting and contracting. This is an opportunity to influence and support our growth across Africa in co-ordination with our Toronto hub.
• The successful candidate will also be the primary Finance contact for the Program teams in country. 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 Finance program partner contracts, i.e., Expression of Interest (EOI), proposal, contract approval, conduct due diligence, budget reviews, 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; 
• Prepare 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; 
• Ensure there are adequate business internal controls with the programs to safeguard Foundation’s assets; 
• Monitor, track and report (including forecasting) on program performance;  
• Responsible for compliance with local and international financial regulations and requirements, e.g., Canada Revenue Agency standards, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws, etc. 
• Approximately 10% travel commitment within country and elsewhere as required; 
• Other duties and responsibilities as required. 

Who You Are

• A relevant University Degree / Accounting qualification. 
• Minimum 5 - 7 years of progressive experience in financial roles within large and/or global multinational organizations.  
• Strong analytical skills with a high level of attention to detail. 
• Excellent communicator, (excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills) with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures,  
• Results driven and self-disciplined, with a strong sense of team and common purpose to achieve ambitious goals. 
• Able to formulate and develop a new or creative approach to a problem. 
• Proficient in MS Office applications, particularly Excel. 
• Flexible, adaptable, intellectually curious and open, you are comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas and willing to learn and change. 
• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values. 

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The Work at the Foundation

• We have entered a very exciting time at the Foundation as we scale up our operations across Africa to realize our Young Africa Works strategy. Our role at the Mastercard Foundation is to be a catalyst. Our Young Africa Works strategy focuses on working with others to spur systemic change so young people have the opportunity to find work that is dignified and fulfilling.  
• The Foundation has opened offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, building a broader leadership presence in Africa to develop specific strategies that support youth employment. 
• Within a country, we work with governments, the private sector, educators and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the work force, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and connect job seekers to dignified and fulfilling work. 
• We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful. 
• If you are a Partner, MSME ready to build something new and increase your impact, read on! 

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Program Lead, MSME Finance, the Partner will work collaboratively to manage a portfolio of existing programs in the Financial services/Financial Inclusion sector and Creatives Industries partnerships.
• The Program Partner, MSME Finance will also serve as a member to support the development of country strategies.
• He/She will interact effectively with senior levels of partner organizations to design and develop programs to support MSME start-ups and growth; and incorporate the MSME segment’s needs into the Foundation’s country strategies.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Support and contribute to the ongoing definition and development of Country Office strategies and expansion. This work could include conducting due diligence of potential partners and projects, reviewing project design and appropriate documentation, reporting and data collection as well as budget reviews.
• Identify challenges and opportunities facing MSMEs, including those in the Creatives sector that can be unlocked through education, labour, and financial systems to drive job growth.
• Manage current and future programs as appropriate; and distill learnings for Foundation staff.
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in youth employment, MSME sector and entrepreneurship growth in Africa.
• Communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
• Build relationships with partner organizations, communities of practice, and global stakeholders.
• Serve as a local point of contact and collaborator across a range of interested parties including partner organizations, government officials, young people, and private sector leaders on issues of common concern to leverage positive impact toward common goals. 
• Represent the Foundation and collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify and overcome barriers to team effectiveness by sharing knowledge and learnings while offering insights and possible solutions to issues and/or program challenges.
• Contribute insights to the Foundation’s thought leadership on youth employment in Africa.

Who You Are

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business, Development Economics and/or Financial Inclusion.
• Minimum 5 - 7 years of experience within banking, consulting, research and/or international development organizations. Relevant experience in financing and non-financial support to MSMEs or new enterprises is required. This should include commercial experience and project management in enterprise business development, investing in and/or financing MSMEs in developing countries.
• Strong understanding of MSME segments (from early-stage startups to growth-stage SMEs) in Africa and the systemic challenges constraining their growth, with a particularly understanding of the Nigeria context.
• Understanding of the role MSMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation.
• Experience with MFIs, banks, or investment companies operational in Africa to finance SMEs particularly in agriculture, digital economy, and creative industries.
• Experience living and working in Africa, particularly Nigeria and knowledge of social, economic, and political contexts are highly desirable.
• Strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a portfolio of commitments.
• Strong ability to communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
• Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
• Excellent prioritization, time management and listening skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills in English. Ability to speak any local language(s) is highly preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 20% when business travels resume.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.  
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision. 

go to method of application »

The Work at the Foundation

• We have entered a very exciting time at the Foundation as we scale up our operations across Africa to realize our Young Africa Works strategy. Our role at the Mastercard Foundation is to be a catalyst. Our Young Africa Works strategy focuses on working with others to spur systemic change so young people have the opportunity to find work that is dignified and fulfilling.
• The Foundation has opened offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, building a broader leadership presence in Africa to develop specific strategies that support youth employment. 
• Within a country, we work with governments, the private sector, educators and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the work force, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and connect job seekers to dignified and fulfilling work.
• We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful.
• If you are an experienced Evaluation manager ready to build something new and increase your impact, read on!

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Head of Impact, the Head, Evidence & Insights will be responsible for leading the vision for, and managing the Evidence and Insights Workstream to ensure that high quality independent evaluations and reviews are commissioned and managed well, that Impact Labs are established to support and elevate Indigenous knowledge, and that evaluative evidence is consolidated and provided to the Foundation to support adaptive management and governance. 
• In doing so, the Head of Evidence and Insights will be part of the senior Impact team in implementing the vision of the Impact Strategy to transform the ways evaluations and reviews are conducted in giving greater voice to youth and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Ways You Can Contribute
Strategic management of the Evidence and Insights Workstream:

• With specific responsibility for leading the Evidence and Insights workstream, you will:
  • Work with the Head of Impact and the core Impact team to ensure that the vision of the Impact Strategy is operationalized across Africa and in indigenous communities in Canada.
  • Develop and implement strategies and operational workplans to deliver the E&I workstream activities, manage, mentor and coach staff, and engage innovative partners across Africa and indigenous Canada to nurture the co-creation of indigenous knowledge and data.
  • Manage the timely provision of essential impact reports and narratives to the Impact Reporting workstream.

Overseeing Outcome & Impact reviews:

• Ensure the commissioning and conduct of country strategy and annual program impact reviews, aiming to generate formative, independent, credible, and useful evidence and insights by assessing the performance and results of Foundation’s Young Africa Works country strategies  and associated portfolios and programs.
• Lead the development of An Approach to Evaluations and Reviews in Mastercard Foundation (policy-guideline equivalent) that sets out the types of evaluations and reviews that will be undertaken at Program, Portfolio and Country systems level, including the use of innovative practices and methods to  ensure insights into the lives of young women and men, their families, institutions, and systems.
• Lead the development of an Annual Evaluation Plan that sets out the scope of the Foundation’s annual evaluation and review activity at  Partner, Program, Strategy and Mission levels.
• Socialize the approach to evaluation  across the Foundation  to ensure the production of independent, credible evidence that meets high professional standards.
• Develop mechanisms and standards for sourcing  high quality independent Evaluation and evaluation specialists, including deploying a transparent EOI and RFP process that reaches beyond the convention evaluation market.
• Ensure the engagement of hard to reach stakeholder groups, particularly vulnerable young women, and men  in the evaluation process.

Impact Labs and Narratives of Change:

• Working closely with the Impact Partner Organizations, lead the scoping and establishment of a network of evaluative Impact Labs in Africa and Canada capable of deepening innovations & foresight around youth-focused impact (existing or new Labs).
• Manage the alignment of  Impact Partner Organizations and associated data collection, Impact Labs  and the role of Youth Associates .
• Ensure that indigenous Canadian and African thought and practice leaders are central to the Foundation’s support for  indigenous knowledge and data.
• Ensure that narrative impact evidence and insights through youth lenses and perspectives informed by indigenous knowledge are central to the evaluation work of the Foundation.
• Ensure that  evaluations, syntheses and summaries of evidence and insights are commissioned and managed in ways that empower voice and agency of youth and that messages are tailored to specific audiences and platforms.

Professional networking and representation:

• Participate and represent the Impact Unit of the Foundation  in external professional forums and networks relating to Evaluation and Insights as may be authorized by the Head of Impact.
• Participate in Foundation  internal meetings and forums as relevant for the evaluation and insights agenda of the Impact team.

Who You Are
Educational and professional qualifications:

• Advanced University Degree in International Development, Economics, Evaluation, Data Science, Social Science, Social Innovation or other relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of evaluation management experience including managing evaluation teams, specialists and partnerships, and reporting to senior management and Boards.  
• Minimum 8 years of experience as an evaluation practitioner conducting country strategy and program evaluations in diverse development and private sector initiatives.

Sector and Stakeholder Experience:

• Substantial experience in development, market-based organizations, philanthropic organizations or investors working in sectors such as agriculture, labor, finance, tourism, technology, social development, health, social enterprise.
• Strong understanding of socio-economic analysis, systems change, foresight analysis, data systems, and tech-enabled data collection and analysis. 
• Familiarity with policy and practice debates on evidence, equity, inclusion, decolonization, post COVID economic reform among others.
• Support for evaluation and evidence practice that encourage thought leadership and innovation in the use of mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative data, narratives, systems change, participatory techniques for facilitating inclusive evaluations, evidence and insights. 
• Strong understanding and commitment to the use of indigenous knowledge and techniques of enquiry to enrich evidence with communities and citizens. 
• Strong networks and work experience with youth groups, including youth in vulnerable circumstances, youth-targeted development investments, including the private sector. 

Geographic Experience:

• Professional experience in multiple countries in Africa, and ideal, experience with global initiatives. 

Communication, professional networks, values:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and engage effectively with a range of stakeholders including senior managers, Boards, team members, private and public sector partners and young evaluators.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills. 
• Membership in professional evaluation associations, notably in emerging African and Indigenous Evaluation networks; and/or professional certificate in evaluation is highly desired. 
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• French language and/or local language skills are an asset.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.