Lead, Youth Engagement at MasterCard

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 youth engagement looking to increase your impact, read on!

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Head, Inclusion, the Lead, Youth Engagement will set direction and engage partners to build impactful country programs.
• The role involves providing insights on youth voices, managing relationships with partners and program alumni, and serving as the subject matter expert on youth engagement matters.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Collaborate with the country team, including the Country Head and technical experts (Impact Measurement, Thematic Research, and Communication teams), to integrate youth engagement into the Country Strategy and program cycle, ensuring youth perspectives are included in portfolio and program design.
• Work with country teams and partners to co-design strategic outcomes and program roadmaps, pursuing program integration and innovation opportunities.
• Lead planning and budgeting efforts to ensure adequate resources for implementing youth engagement approaches in programs.
• Support implementing partners in developing youth engagement and outreach mechanisms, keeping youth central to implementation efforts.
• Manage the delivery of youth engagement programs, overseeing research and evaluation to ensure relevant and rigorous approaches aligned with the Young Africa Works Strategy.
• Work with the internal Knowledge Management team to identify, document, and mobilize insights and lessons learned from the Foundation’s portfolio.
• Contribute to a learning culture within the Foundation that is reflective, people-focused, and rooted in gender-sensitive evidence.
• Manage initiatives, events, and platforms to broadly engage program alumni and young people.
• Build youth-focused partnerships with local organizations to enhance the impact of Country and Regional Programs.
• Manage relationships with government stakeholders.

Who You Are

• Master's Degree and/or relevant qualifications in Social Sciences, including Education, Gender w Women's Studies, or a related discipline focusing on economic empowerment.
• Relevant professional qualification and membership in a relevant professional body.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in partnership management, including capacity assessment, providing feedback, training, collaborations, and networking for effective gender outcomes.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
• Experience planning and delivering gender training for multiple audiences, translating knowledge, synthesizing data, and articulating key insights.
• Knowledge of the landscape of local, national, regional, and pan-African women’s and youth-serving organizations and networks and country-specific social, economic, and political contexts.
• Strong communication skills to convey project progress and lessons learned to colleagues and the broader development community.
• Expertise in developing and applying gender analysis and design tools in multi-sectoral programs.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to contribute as a thought partner in the Foundation’s strategy development.
• Excellent project management skills, including managing multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience working with programs supporting refugee youth and people with disabilities is a strong asset.
• Results-driven with a sense of urgency, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and openness to new ideas.
• Excellent prioritization, time management, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.