Mastercard Foundation recruits 01 Program Lead, Access to Finance WAEMU
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 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, young people, 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 Access to Finance professional looking to increase your impact, read on!
The opportunity
Reporting to the Country Program Coordinator, the role primarily engages partners for successful program design and implementation. The job holder works with Program Leads and Partners to provide technical expertise in financial inclusion for the development of programs and interventions, helps partners build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities related to growing sectorial MSMEs employment in the country, and contributes to the Foundation’s learning agenda.
Ways you can contribute
- Provide support and contribute to the ongoing definition and development of the WAEMU Cluster Office strategies and expansion.
- Manage current and future programs as appropriate; including programs in the rural finance initiative and distil learnings for Foundation staff.
- Communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
- Adopting a value chain approach, identify challenges and opportunities preventing greater MSMEs growth that can be unlocked through capacity building, access to financial services and access to markets to drive job growth.
- Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in youth employment, MSME sector and entrepreneurship growth in agriculture in Africa.
- 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.
- 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.
Who you are
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business and Development Economics and other relevant field is required.
- Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in business development support, financing and non-financial support to MSMEs or new enterprises is highly preferred.
- Solid expertise and ability in designing and managing relevant and appropriate fintech solutions for MSMEs in various sectors and various stages of development.
- Experience working on MSME support programs in the country and knowledge of local and regional social, economic, regulatory, business and political contexts.
- Demonstrate experience in project design and management with focus on enterprise development and MSME support.
- 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 country context.
- Understanding of the role MSMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation.
- Strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a portfolio of commitments.
- Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
- Excellent presentation and listening skills.
- Excellent prioritization and time management skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
- Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
- 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.
- Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.
Deadline for Applications is February 10, 2022
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.Postuler