Program Partner, MSME at Mastercard Foundation: (Deadline 15 March 2022)

Program Partner, MSME at Mastercard Foundation: (Deadline 15 March 2022)

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 MSME professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Country Head, the Program Partner MSME/Finance will be responsible for engaging partners for successful program design and implementation focused on the Foundation’s commitment to enable dignified and fulfilling work for young women and young people in general. He/She will work with the Program Leads and Partners to provide technical expertise in the development of programs and interventions, help partners build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities related to growing MSME employment in the country, and contributes to the Foundation’s country strategy.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Contribute to the design of MSME, Entrepreneurship and Ag. Finance and/or digital finance Strategies, .
• Ensure integration of MSME analysis during strategy development, program design, partnership development, implementation and monitoring and learning.
• Provide support in the development and implementation of programs, including co-creation of programs and due diligence of potential partners and projects.
• Contribute to the ongoing redesign of country programs.
• Manage current and future programs as appropriate; including programs in MSME, access to finance and access to markets initiatives and distill learnings for Foundation staff.
• Provide support to implementing partners to strengthen their effort in MSME support and access to finance, access to markets areas.
• Elevate MSME Finance work during design, implementation and monitoring of the country program.
• Identify needs, co-design solutions and facilitate the implementation of training and coaching programs for team and partner staff.
• Identify, document, and mobilize MSME Finance-related insight and learning from the Foundation’s current and future portfolio of work in the Country.
• Support country team and partners to feature the work of MSMEs and entrepreneurs at events, either as participants or speakers.
• Capture and document insights and learnings to ensure that we are adapting consistently to create sustainable and guided programs and approaches.
• Work with the team across various areas to achieve program strategy.
• Engage with partners/grantees to review opportunities, challenges and advances interventions through collaboration, learning, exchange and strategic partnerships.
• Develop new partnerships, including identifying and working with prospective partners to design proposals, undertaking due diligence of potential partners and projects.
• Manage, monitor and coordinate a portfolio of partners, including reviewing financial and narrative reporting from partners.
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the SME finance space, with a particular focus on Rwanda.
• 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, as appropriate.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s degree plus another professional qualification or equivalent experience in Finance, Business and Development Economics or another relevant qualification 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 Rwanda and knowledge of Rwandan and East African 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 Rwanda 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.
• Strong communication skills in English; written and spoken, and ability to communicate in a local language required. French is an asset.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a cross-functional 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 March 15, 2022.

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