Lead, Youth Engagement 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 professional in youth engagement looking to increase your impact, read on!


The opportunity
Reporting to the Head, Education and cross-cutting enablers, the Lead, Youth Engagement will build the young people perspective into the programs by setting direction and engaging partners throughout program design and implementation. You will provide knowledge and insights on youth voice in the Programs, managing relationships with partners, communities, etc., and ensuring youth’s engagement and appropriation of the Foundation’s programs and activities.



Ways you can contribute
• Engage meaningfully with young people and collaborate with country teams to ensure youth perspectives are integrated into portfolio and program design.
• Work with the integrated program team to incorporate youth engagement across the Country Strategy and program cycle.
• Collaborate with country teams and partners to co-design country-level strategic outcomes and programs, proactively pursuing opportunities for integration and innovation.
• Lead resource planning and budgeting to effectively embed youth engagement approaches into programs.
• Support implementing partners in building youth engagement and outreach mechanisms, ensuring youth remain central to program implementation efforts.
• Ensure youth are actively involved in programs, serving as ambassadors and voices of success to engage other young people.
• Manage the delivery of youth engagement programs and initiatives.
• Oversee research and evaluations of partners to ensure relevant, rigorous, and respectful approaches that align with the Young Africa Works Strategy.
• Work with the internal Knowledge Management team to identify, document, and share insights and lessons learned from the Foundation’s portfolio of youth-related work.
• Manage initiatives, events, and platforms to engage program alumni and the broader youth community.
• Build youth-focused partnerships with local organizations to enhance the impact of WAEMU and Regional Programs.
• Manage relationships with government stakeholders to align programs with policy objectives.


Who you are
• Master’s degree in Finance, Business, Communication or equivalent experience in youth engagement.
• Minimum of ten (10) years relevant experience in youth engagement required.
• Minimum of 5 years leadership and management experience.
• Demonstrates a great understanding of the youth communities and engagement models.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of African agricultural markets, the systemic challenges leading to stagnant growth, and best practices for addressing them.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and driving youth engagement and mobilization.
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills and the ability to think strategically and contribute as a thought leader in the Foundation’s strategy development.
• Demonstrates strong budgeting skills with the ability to manage a large portfolio of assets.
• Command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
• Bilingual English and French oral and written language skills preferred.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of youth dynamics, trends, mobilization methods, etc.
• 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.