Program Lead, Refugees & Displaced Persons

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.

If you're an experienced professional in Refugees & Displaced Persons programs looking to expand your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Foundation recently partnered with a consortium of 19 partners led by War Child Canada on the Pathways to Empowerment for Youth in South Sudan (P2E), a six-year project that will accompany displaced youth and host communities in South Sudan to attain quality education that will lead to dignified and fulfilling work.

Reporting to the Program Head, Refugees & Displaced Persons and Disability Inclusion, the Program Lead will oversee the Pathways to Empowerment (P2E) Consortium and other Mastercard Foundation projects. You will liaise between consortium partners and the Foundation, support safeguarding, and facilitate engagement and information sharing. The Lead will also work closely with the Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDP) Regional Program team to align with other Foundation projects and regional initiatives.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Contribute to implementing RDP strategy and designing sector interventions in South Sudan.
• Contribute and seek new ideas and evidence on the strategic framing of RDP strategy implementation.
• Develop and co-create partnerships aligned to the RDP strategy and provide thorough guidance and analysis during program design, partnership development, implementation, and monitoring and learning.
• Manage workshops and meetings through agenda development, logistics, and delivery.
• Support the RDP team on day-to-day inquiries, calls, and meetings.
• Identify and connect to RDP intersections across the Foundation and manage mobilization of focal point team members.
• Collaborate with team members in various functional areas, including Program, Impact and Measurement, Research, and Communications, to ensure integration of RDP approaches.
• Support Foundation team members and partners to feature RDP at events, either as participants or speakers.
• Engage with consortium partners/grantees to review opportunities and challenges and advance interventions through collaboration, learning, exchange, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead partnership by working with partners on the P2E implementation, undertaking due diligence of partners, and managing safeguarding.
• Manage, monitor, and coordinate the portfolio of partners, including participation in governance structures and reviewing financial and narrative reporting from partners.
• Capture and document insights and learnings to ensure that we consistently adapt to create sustainable and guided RDP programs and approaches.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience engaging with senior staff in government, private sector, UN bodies, humanitarian agencies, and young people, especially marginalized youth (refugees, displaced youth, and/or young people with disabilities).
• Proven track record of contributing to new initiatives or transforming existing ones into impactful programs in a multicultural environment.
• Experience building partnerships, managing multiple projects, and leading teams, including coaching and mentoring colleagues.
• Strong presentation skills for internal and external leadership teams.
• Ability to deliver results in a fast-paced, fluid environment while working across cultures and geographies.
• Strong understanding of national and local contexts influencing opportunities for refugees, displaced youth, and people with disabilities.
• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills, contributing as a thought partner in strategy development.
• Outstanding interpersonal and listening skills to build effective partnerships across all levels of the Foundation.
• Passionate about youth education, employment in Africa, and empowering marginalized groups such as women, refugees, displaced youth, and people with disabilities.
• A team player with high emotional intelligence and an entrepreneurial mindset to build new functions in dynamic environments.
• Fluency in English; French speakers will be given preference, with additional local languages an added advantage.
• Prior experience living and working in Africa is required; refugees are encouraged to apply.

Deadline for Applications is November 6, 2024.