Program Partner Agriculture at Mastercard Foundation

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.

UNDERSTANDING CANADA PROGRAMS AT THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation has begun working within Canada in partnership with Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions to listen, learn, and best understand how we can act in meaningful ways. The EleV strategy was co-created with Indigenous communities, young people, and partners to enable 30,000 Indigenous youth to complete their education and transition to dignified work aligned with their values and aspirations.

As reflected in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, education is a key driver of improved socio-economic well-being. Through building partnerships with Indigenous communities, we look to expand our initiative ultimately helping to support a generation of transformative Indigenous young leaders who will be change agents within their communities. We believe that by setting a bold target, we will encourage engagement across sectors and create momentum that will elevate the strengths and opportunities of Indigenous youth. In keeping with our approach, Indigenous communities and young people will be the drivers of this transformation. The program will promote innovations to address longer-term systemic change to achieve economic prosperity and social well-being within Indigenous communities.

The EleV team oversees current and emerging partnerships related to Indigenous education. Consistent with our overall vision and Youth Africa Works strategy, we will share learnings and opportunities to connect across the work of the Foundation. While operating in distinct contexts, the centrality of youth voice and vision, affirmation of culture and identity, and priority to enhance community capacity for self-determination are common threads upon which our work is strengthened and reinforced.

If you are an experienced agriculture professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Lead, Agriculture, the Program Partner Agriculture will engage partners for successful program design and implementation. The job holder is responsible for a portfolio of agriculture/agri-food systems and agribusiness related programs and partnerships in the country. The Program Partner will be expected to provide expertise to identify constraints that prevent agricultural systems from functioning effectively at the country level.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Provide support in the development and implementation of programs, including co-creation of programs and due diligence of potential partners and projects.
• Manage agriculture programs, distilling learnings from the progress and trends of development, implementation and adaptations. This includes, but not limited to, oversight of day-to-day activities of particular programs or processes, support capacity enhancement of partner institutions, conduct field visits, conduct partner program review meetings, and reviewing project budgets and plans.
• Communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider Young Africa Works in the country partnership network.
• Work closely with team members in finance, gender & youth engagement, impact and other functions to ensure coherence and alignment as well as promote integration.
• Represent the Foundation and collaborate with key internal and external audiences.
• Identify and help overcome challenges and other barriers to team effectiveness.
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the agricultural and agri-food/Agri finance and agribusiness sector.
• Provide support for the effort to establish relationships with like-minded organizations, communities of practice, and stakeholders to forge coalitions and promote collaboration between various players.

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness or Business Development.
• Four (4) plus years of experience in agriculture/agri-food systems/agribusiness is required. This experience could include project design and management and/or field experience working in the country.
• Experience and understanding in a variety of value chains (cash and food crops), small businesses and MSMEs along the value chain, and supply chain / logistics in agriculture.
• Experience in providing technical and other support to project managers and implementers for effective program delivery.
• Experience working with multiple partners and institutional capacity development.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the role of agriculture, agribusiness and agri-finance in economic growth and development and the livelihood of small holder farmers.
• Understanding of the role agri-food and rural SMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation.
• Demonstrates strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a large portfolio of assets.
• Command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics.
• Excellent project development and management skills for multi-stakeholder projects including; monitoring, evaluation and report writing.
• Ability to communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
• Ability to work well and interact effectively with multiple team members and partners.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
• 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 May 5, 2022.

Click Here to Apply