Deadline: September 15, 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 Head, Partnership Network, the Lead, Partner Networks will be responsible for building and implementing partnerships with higher education institutions in Africa to ensure the successful design and delivery of the Scholars Program.

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

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of portfolio-level strategy, including outcomes, approach, and work plan.
• Identify new global partnership opportunities and structure collaboration frameworks focused on youth development and institutional strengthening in Africa.
• Drive the co-creation process with new partners in consultation with Program Partners, Leads, and the Head.
• Establish metrics for measuring the success and progress of partnerships in consultation with Scholars Program Heads and the Impact team.
• Develop terms of reference for new work and lead the identification of external resources to support delivery.
• Support partners with implementation, track progress, and ensure high-quality program delivery, including safeguarding Scholars and participants.
• Collaborate with the Scholars Program Transitions team to ensure the successful transition of Scholars into work or further education.
• Work with the Transformative Leadership team to ensure partners implement on-campus transformative leadership programs for Scholars.
• Ensure all partnerships consider and address the specific constraints of marginalized youth, particularly young women, refugees, displaced youth, and youth with disabilities.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with stakeholders to scale impact, including developing partner networks, engaging governmental bodies, and coordinating cross-organizational collaboration.
• Facilitate connections, exchange, and learning across the Scholars Program regional portfolio, including leading face-to-face and virtual advisory groups, convenings, and working groups.
• Coach and mentor colleagues to deliver high-quality work aligned with Foundation values in a supportive and collaborative environment.

REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree and/or professional qualification in international development, education, public policy, social sciences, or a related field.
• Proficiency with MS Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Proven experience contributing to and transforming initiatives in a multicultural environment, particularly in Africa.
• Strong knowledge of the higher education ecosystem in Africa and key issues, emerging trends, and barriers in education and youth employment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and build effective partnerships across cultures and geographies.
• Delivering results in fast-paced, fluid environments with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills, contributing as a thought partner in strategy development.
• Experience and sensitivity to issues of inclusion, with a focus on programs for women, people with disabilities, and/or refugees and displaced youth.
• Passion for youth education and employment in Africa, with a commitment to engaging and empowering marginalized groups.
• Entrepreneurial mindset for building new functions in dynamic environments, with a service-oriented approach to driving common goals.
• Results-driven, with a strong sense of performance excellence and urgency, and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to experiment, innovate, and leverage best practices.
• Fluency in one or more languages spoken in Africa, including English.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate across cultures and build effective partnerships at all levels.
• Professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, impeccable integrity, and a demonstrated commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK