Program Lead, Agribusiness WAEMU (UEMOA)

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.

Visit our career page at https://mastercardfdn.org/foundation/careers/

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

This position is open to candidates with one or more WAEMU countries experience

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the WAEMU Program Head, the Lead, Agribusiness will be responsible for a portfolio of programs within the agriculture sectors as well as supporting the development of country strategies. She/he will be expected to interact effectively with senior levels of partner organizations to advance the Foundation’s initiatives, while concurrently contribute to the Foundation’s country strategy development.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Provide expertise on MSMEs operating in the agribusiness and agri-adjacent sectors to support Foundation colleagues’ design and management of programs in country.
• Define strategy and priorities to support the growth of agri-business and agri-adjacents MSMEs in the Cluster, in collaboration with colleagues and in partnership with various stakeholders.
• Identify challenges and opportunities in the agribusiness and agri-adjacent sectors to drive job growth.
• Collaborate with country teams and other team members in the development or implementation of new programs, including co-creation of programs and due diligence practices.
• Communicate progress and learnings from programs to foundation colleagues and the wider development community.
• Collaborate with the program and country teams to leverage synergies across programs and across geographies.
• Manage a portfolio of programs with adherence to the foundation monitoring and reporting requirements, be pro-active to identify.
• Build relationships with partner organizations, communities of practice, and global stakeholders.
• Represent the Foundation and collaborate with key internal and external audiences.
• Lead and supervise small teams of colleagues and/or junior experts by providing coaching and support necessary for success and growth.

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business, Development Economics and/or Financial Inclusion is required.
• Strong understanding of MSME segments.
• Experience with MFIs, banks or investment companies operational in Africa to finance SMEs.
• Proven track record in planning, implementing, and promoting programs and projects providing financial, technical and/or business solutions to agribusinesses, with experience implementing or advising on smallholder sourcing models.
• Experience living and working in Africa, particularly within in countries part of West African Economic Monetary Union.
• Strong ability to communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
• Astute ability to provide expert technical advice to program managers and implementers.
• Experience with global grant making, especially in designing market systems development programs. This experience may come from working in another funding organization, corporation or an NGO.
• Strong knowledge and management experience in market-led agricultural value chain development, agricultural policy and trade, agriculture financing, agriculture association and cooperative development, and/or agriculture trade and marketing.
• Command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics.
• Strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a large portfolio of assets.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
• Proficiency in English, written and oral is required. Ability to speak a local language is highly preferred. French is an asset.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• 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.

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.

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