Impact Head, Scholars Program

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 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.

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.

UNDERSTANDING AND MEASURING IMPACT 

The Foundation has developed a comprehensive Impact Strategy that takes a holistic outcome-focused approach to measuring impact at individual, community, and systems level, that elevates the voices of young women and men in defining and measuring dignified and fulfilling work, and that values indigenous knowledge and new ways of knowing.

Working with young women and men in Canada and within Africa represents a unique opportunity to develop, implement, and learn from programming and influencing activities in ways that value African and Indigenous ways of being and knowing. Impact measurement and the associated narratives are guided by youth-focused lenses and located within the nexus of nationally owned strategies and global best practices and thought leadership. The methodologies and tools used are determined and co-created in partnership with youth and other Indigenous vectors of knowledge in communities and countries where we work.

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

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Programs Impact Support and Advisory, the Impact Head, Scholars Program will be responsible for leading the Impact function by supporting in formulating strategic outcomes for the Scholars Program based on the Impact Measurement Framework. You will work closely with the Scholars Program Leads and various Impact Partner Organizations (IPOs) and the Scholars data management team responsible for maintaining specific databases for measuring results.  Additionally, in collaboration with the Impact Strategy, Analytics and Evaluation team, you will lead in developing the plan for thematic Impact reviews, outcome monitoring and the evaluation of the impact of the Foundation’s Scholars Program.

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

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Facilitate the development of strategic outcomes for the Foundation’s Scholars Program, including collaborative networks, using a Theory of Change approach to shift from “output thinking” to a systems change framework. Ensure alignment with strategic objectives, measures, and impact.
• Lead the alignment of the Scholars Program’s impact with regional institutions and systems for measuring impact. Oversee external Impact Partner Organizations (IPOs) engaged in impact monitoring and verification activities.
• Provide support in developing and implementing strategies, tools, and events that enhance dialogue with key stakeholders, including policy briefs and Thought Leadership events.
• Lead knowledge translation activities, partnering with the Communications team to map audiences, develop engagement strategies, and promote the Foundation’s value in Measurement and Impact narratives.
• Support Program Planning and Implementation units in analyzing barriers to quality higher education and creating opportunities for dignified work. Refine goals into Measurable Outcomes and develop methods and tools for measuring Outcomes and Impact narratives.
• Play a leading role in commissioning and managing quarterly impact monitoring studies and evidence for adaptive management. Contribute evaluation and impact assessment perspectives to generate insights resonating with local cultures and ways of knowing.
• Facilitate participatory group and learning events with youth and culturally relevant knowledge holders to generate insights for adaptation and collaborative planning.
• Support program teams in formulating outcomes responsive to program transformation goals. Attract and build a network of impact measurement specialists and evaluators, developing tools and approaches for the Young Africa Works Strategies and supporting succession planning. 

WHO YOU ARE 

• Post-graduate degree and/or equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the education sector, particularly with Higher Education institutions and state and non-state actors in Evaluation, Reviews, and Impact, including senior leadership/management roles.
• Extensive knowledge of research methods, especially in gathering data and insights among indigenous communities, youth, and other vulnerable groups using culturally appropriate approaches.
• Strong experience working with regional institutions for planning, policy formulation, and implementation, with a focus on research, evaluation, and learning.
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methods, tool design, validation, data analysis, and managing big data with government and academic institutions.
• Experience living and working in multiple countries or culturally diverse communities.
• Proven ability to develop and implement regional M&E policies and build capacity in the evaluation sector for state and non-state actors.
• Proficiency with tech-enabled tools for data collection, analysis, reporting, and communication.
• Experience in participatory approaches, gender inclusion, and youth engagement.
• Strong language, cultural, and identity alignment with national communities.
• Understanding of systems thinking and ability to develop and evaluate theories of change relevant to indigenous communities.
• Effective experience in stakeholder engagement and policy influencing, with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate information across cultures.
• Demonstrates professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and integrity, aligning with the Mastercard Foundation's values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is August 28, 2024.

Mastercard Foundation (the “Foundation”) values and respects your privacy. By submitting an application for this opportunity, you hereby agree to the Foundation’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy (available at https://mastercardfdn.org/privacy/). Please note that the Foundation may share your personal information with third-party agencies that support the Foundation’s recruitment activities, and such third-party agencies may contact you directly regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Foundation’s Privacy Officer at the address indicated in its Privacy Policy.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
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Last updated on Aug 8, 2024