Deadline: September 13, 2024.

They are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as they 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, they 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. They 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.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Programs Impact Support & Advisory, the Impact Lead, Education and Transitions will be responsible for translating the Foundation’s Impact strategy into results for program partners. Collaborating with program teams and Impact leads across the enterprise, you will develop and implement the partner-level Impact Measurement Framework to ensure program outcomes align with the Foundation’s strategic goals. Also, the Impact Lead will support onboarding and realigning program partners, identifying opportunities for review, assessment, and evaluation to ensure the Foundation’s initiatives effectively contribute to continental development goals.

The successful candidate will be based in any of their offices in Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, or Senegal). 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works collaboratively with program teams to formulate strategic outcomes for specific programs and partnerships aligned with the Foundation’s shared goals. This includes defining measurable and evaluable outcomes and developing data collection and analysis tools.
• Guides the development and implementation of impact assessment processes to inform strategic decision-making and program development, ensuring partner measurement approaches align with the Foundation’s impact and program strategies.
• Supports program design and goal setting by analyzing root causes and barriers to creating opportunities for dignified work for young women and men in the Education and Transitions thematic areas. This involves translating goals into measurable outcomes and contributing to impact at scale through education and transition program strategies.
• Develops and implements impact assessment, measurement, learning, and research methodologies, ensuring they are contextually relevant and culturally rooted across E&T programs. Expands understanding of impact measurement focusing on youth, protecting privacy, and enhancing rigour.
• Analyzes data on progress against targets, supports data quality in partners’ impact monitoring reports and annual reviews, and informs adaptive management processes. Contributes perspectives on impact measurement that resonate with local and Indigenous cultures.
• Oversees activities of external Impact Partner Organizations engaged in monitoring and verification. Supports developing and implementing strategies to enhance dialogue with government and private sector stakeholders, highlighting the Foundation’s impact and initiatives.
• Documents and provides visibility for impact figures, trends, and contributions across the education and transitions platform, collaborative networks, and partnerships. Identifies targets for partner engagement and leads efforts to craft and promote impact narratives highlighting progress.

REQUIREMENT

• A post-graduate degree and/or equivalent experience and training are added advantages, along with membership in relevant national professional networks and authorities.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in evaluation, reviews, and impact, working with private and non-profit sectors, particularly with state and non-state actors. 
• A minimum of three (3) years of public policy experience with national institutions involved in planning, formulation, and implementation.
• At least five (5) years of experience living in Africa and/or working with young people in Africa.
• Skills and competency in developing tools and methods for measuring outcomes and impact within nationally mandated institutions.
• Experience navigating policy, research, review, and evaluation processes, including understanding big data management with government and research institutions.
• Proven expertise in research and evaluation, including mixed methods, tool design, validation, and data analysis, focusing on using culturally appropriate approaches for gathering data among Indigenous communities, youth, and other vulnerable groups.
• Experience establishing institutions for accountability and learning to enhance program impact in education, employment, and empowerment.
• Experience with national, regional, and international institutions responsible for measuring and reporting education outcomes and impact, with deep knowledge of local research methods and cultural understanding specific to Africa.
• Strong familiarity with developing and implementing M&E policies nationally and regionally, including capacity building for state and non-state actors. Additionally, experience with tech-enabled tools for data collection, analysis, reporting, and communication.
• Experience in participatory approaches, demonstrating commitment to gender inclusion and youth engagement. Deep familiarity with education systems and transitioning young people from education to work.
• Experience working with institutions to enhance technology use and institutional change mechanisms for achieving learning and skills development outcomes at scale in Africa.
• Understanding systems thinking and the ability to develop and test theories of change relevant to Indigenous communities.
• Practical experience in stakeholder engagement and policy influencing, including work with community-based organizations, governance councils, regional and national government, and the private sector.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and change, with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a track record of adapting to opportunities and challenges.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK