Consultant, Access to Finance – WAEMU.
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 are an experienced Finance professional looking to increase your impact, read on!


The opportunity
Reporting to the Head, Access to Finance WEAMU, the Consultant will engage partners for successful program design and implementation. The Consultant will work with the Foundation’s Program and Support teams and external Partners to provide technical expertise in financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development to develop programs and interventions. You will help partner build a shared understanding of key issues and opportunities to grow employment for young people and contribute to the Foundation’s learning agenda.

Ways you can contribute
• Support program teams in developing new programs in alignment with the Young Africa Works strategy.
• Support program teams in monitoring access to the finance program portfolio.
• Incorporate research-based insights in financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development into program design and ensure continuous learning by assessing the performance and impact of programs and projects.
• Facilitate co-design workshops with Program teams.
• Contribute new programming ideas and collaboration models in financial inclusion.
• Work closely with other team members at the foundation to ensure alignment with the broader mission and goals.

Who you are
• Master’s degree or equivalent in Finance, Business, Development Economics, or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience with global or regional organizations in international development, commercial banking, microfinance, or private equity, specifically in West Africa.
• Experience in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) support programs with knowledge of West Africa’s social, economic, regulatory, business, and political contexts.
• Experience in financial initiatives for women and/or youth is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in project design and management focused on MSME support and enterprise development.
• Strong understanding of MSME segments in Africa, from early to growth stages, and the systemic challenges they face in contributing to economic transformation and job creation.
• Excellent project management skills, including experience with multistakeholder projects and budgeting in collaboration with Finance teams throughout design, implementation, and monitoring stages.
• 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, and demonstrate professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity.
• Commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.


Deadline for Applications is November 13, 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.