Regional Lead, Gender - Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. 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.

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.
Values are timeless, they transcend and rise above all. They guide everything we do, as employees of the Foundation. We 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 – it’s 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.

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. If you are an expert on gender, empowerment of women and young people and are ready to build something new and increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Gender Lead, Africa, the Regional Lead, Gender spearheads the integration of gender analysis at strategic, tactical and operational levels within the Country Programs and to create partnerships that furthers gender equality outcomes in our Young Africa Works strategy. This role has the primary responsibility of helping the Country program teams in understanding gender dynamics and how they influence various opportunities for young women and young men and supporting programmatic interventions that are responsive to the realities at the country level.

The role will also collaborate with, advise, and support colleagues in various departments at country level especially Programs and Impact Measurement teams to expand internal capacity to design, implement gender-sensitive programs and achieve gender equity targets. The work undertaken under this role will be instrumental in helping generate innovative ideas to support the Foundation’s mission, and to drive the achievement of the Young Africa Works strategy in the Country. You will also remain well-versed in information and emerging trends in gender; and contribute to gender forums and communities of practice, representing the Foundation in these spaces at country level.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

Strategic Design

• Work in collaboration with Country Heads, Foundation technical experts including Impact Measurement, Thematic Research and Communication teams, Program Partners to integrate gender across the Country Strategy, program cycle, and to advance the Foundation’s overall gender outcomes.
• Work with country teams and partners to co-design programs and ensure adequate resources and budgeting to implement gendered approach in their programs.
• Support the adaptation and development of gender analysis tools for the Foundation and provide technical and strategic guidance for applying them to various programs at the country level.
• Lead a Foundation needs assessment and design a detailed support plan for all staff and partners, such as training and coaching programs, resource development, identifying support networks, etc.

Learning, Adaptation and Thought Leadership

• Oversee research and evaluation partners to ensure that they can stimulate relevant, rigorous, and respective approaches to deepening the Foundation’s approach to gender equality in the Young Africa Works Strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with leaders in the field of gender equality, particularly in and identify and help develop strategic partnerships.
• Identify and contribute to relevant learning networks and/or communities of practice and represent the Foundation at gender related events.
• Work with internal Knowledge Management team to identify, document, and mobilize gender-related insight and learning from the Foundation’s current and future portfolio of work.
• Contribute to a learning culture within the Foundation that is reflective, people-focused, and rooted in gender-sensitive evidence.

WHO YOU ARE

• You have a Master’s degree and/or combination of relevant experiences and qualification in social sciences, including gender/women/youth studies, human rights, international humanitarian and development, public health, or relevant discipline with a focus on economic empowerment.
• Minimum of 7 – 10 years of experience with progressive responsibility in the development sector with proven track record of integrating gender equality outcomes in programs and operations with a focus on livelihood programming.
• Relevant experience in partnership management including capacity assessment and providing feedback, training, collaborations and networking for effective gender outcomes.
• You possess exceptional cross-cultural skills with knowledge of and experience with the landscape of local, national, regional, and pan-African women’s organizations and networks. Knowledge of the country-specific social, economic and political contexts; lived experience with youth employment and women’s empowerment issues in Africa and working with vulnerable groups is highly valued.
• You have experience in planning and delivering gender training for multiple audiences and translating knowledge, including synthesizing data and articulating key insights.
• You possess demonstrated expertise in developing and applying gender analysis, design tools in multi-sectoral programs.
• You are results driven and motivated by a high sense of performance excellence with a sense of urgency.
• You are intellectually curious and open. Must be comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas, and willing to adapt.
• Excellent prioritization and time management skills with ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French is required.
• Ability to travel regularly within and outside the country of focus
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.