Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based in Toronto, Canada with several offices in Africa. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.<\/p>\n
Job Description<\/strong><\/p>\n Job Title:\u00a0Program Lead, Agriculture at Mastercard\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Foundation believes that youth employment is key to unlocking prosperity, both for youth and their societies. Enabling young women and men from disadvantaged communities to secure dignified and fulfilling work will ensure inclusive development and economic growth in Africa.<\/p>\n Values are timeless, they transcend and rise above all. They guide everything we do, as employees of the Foundation. \u00a0We share a common vision of a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. We make mistakes, we reflect, and we grow so that we can impact our world \u2013 it\u2019s why we are here. We are ambitious and driven. 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.<\/p>\n THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>AGRICULTURE<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Agri-food and rural SMEs are often a critical link in the economic transformation of a country as they allow farmers to commercialize their activities and lift themselves out of subsistence farming.\u00a0<\/span>The majority of<\/span>\u00a0the population across Africa depend on the agricultural sector for livelihoods and employment and agri-food and rural SMEs can help to provide a route out of poverty for smallholder farmers and rural communities while spurring economic diversification, sustainable development, creation of jobs and trade.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Agriculture subject matter experts are required to ensure that the Foundation leverages the great opportunity for youth employment that the agricultural sector offers and support the development of country strategies. They work to help colleagues build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities related to inclusive agricultural economies in Africa and contributes to the Foundation\u2019s learning agenda.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Africa remains a continent where most people, and a large majority of disadvantaged people, live in rural areas and rely on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. Under the Rural and Agricultural Finance (RAF) initiative, the Foundation has committed over $175 million in funding to programs that provide financial services to smallholder farmers, provides access to essential inputs, and strengthens their capability to apply tested farming practices to improve the productivity of their farms. The initiative supports MFIs, banks, agribusinesses, MNOs, investment funds, and technology companies to provide these services to farmers. As a learning institution, the Foundation continues to generate and disseminate evaluation analysis to guide its future programming under its new Young Africa Works strategy and to benefit the wider financial inclusion industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n THE OPPORTUNITY<\/strong><\/p>\n Reporting to the\u00a0<\/span>Regional<\/span>\u00a0Director,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>Program<\/span>\u00a0Lead, Agriculture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will be responsible for a portfolio of existing Rural and Agricultural Finance programs and partnerships<\/span>\u00a0along with building new portfolio.\u00a0<\/span>They\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0work\u00a0<\/span>collaboratively\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>programs team<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>other Foundation staff<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Program\u00a0<\/span>Lead, Agriculture<\/span>\u00a0will be expected to provide expertise to identify constraints that prevent agricultural systems from functioning effectively at the country level, including, those that prevent youth from developing skills relevant for work in the sector; agribusinesses from accessing the finance; capacity and markets needed to grow; the development and design of programs in the agricultural sector and incorporating the agricultural sector\u2019s needs into country strategies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This individual<\/span>\u00a0will be expected to interact effectively with senior levels\u00a0<\/span>of partner\u00a0<\/span>and public sector\u00a0<\/span>organizations<\/span>\u00a0and public sector<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0advance the\u00a0<\/span>current work of the\u00a0<\/span>Foundation<\/span>, while concurrently contribut<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0to the Foundation\u2019s country strategy development<\/span>\u00a0and new programs<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE<\/strong><\/p>\n WHO YOU ARE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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