Program Lead, Entrepreneurship

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 entrepreneurship looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Head, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, the Program Lead, Entrepreneurship will drive MSME growth by fostering innovation, strengthening ecosystems, and building strategic partnerships. The role ensures entrepreneurs access networks, resources, markets, and tailored solutions for inclusive, sustainable economic development. Combining business development, innovation, and ecosystem partnerships, this position integrates entrepreneurship programming. It involves working with organizations and communities to design and implement programs that support the Foundation’s commitment to dignified and fulfilling work for young people.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Design and oversee innovative entrepreneurship programs that support MSMEs across key sectors (agrifood systems, creative industries, etc.).
• Identify opportunities to pilot and scale innovative business models, digital solutions, and technology adoption to enhance MSME competitiveness.
• Ensure alignment of entrepreneurship programs with broader organizational objectives, with a focus on youth empowerment, sustainability, and gender equity.
• Identify systemic barriers within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and design collaborative interventions to address them.
• Develop, Nurture and Enable strategic partnerships with key ecosystem actors (government agencies, private sector, academic institutions, development partners).
• Foster multi-stakeholder platforms that align ecosystem efforts with the needs of entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
• Advocate for enabling policies and regulatory reforms that support entrepreneurship and MSME growth.
• Lead the development and delivery of business development services (BDS) for entrepreneurs, ensuring tailored support for various enterprise stages (startup, growth, scale-up).
• Introduce and promote innovative tools, technologies, and approaches that enhance MSME resilience and competitiveness.
• Facilitate access to finance, markets, and technical expertise for entrepreneurs through ecosystem linkages and partnerships.
• Work closely with the Program Lead - Agrifood Systems to mainstream entrepreneurial solutions into the agrifood value chains.
• Partner with the Digital Economy Lead to integrate digital tools and technologies into entrepreneurship programs.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Development Team to align training and skill-building initiatives with the needs of young entrepreneurs.
• Contribute to the Sandbox for Youth Innovations & Health Entrepreneurship by fostering creative solutions and approaches in youth-led enterprises.
• Organize learning sessions, workshops, and networking events to foster knowledge sharing and peer learning among ecosystem actors.
• Build capacity of partner organizations, accelerators, and business development service providers to enhance their effectiveness in supporting entrepreneurs.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and case studies to inform future programs and sector-wide initiatives.
• Engage with government bodies, industry associations, and policy forums to advocate for systemic changes that foster inclusive entrepreneurship.
• Represent the organization in national and international dialogues on entrepreneurship, innovation, and ecosystem strengthening.
• Align entrepreneurship programming with national development priorities and sector strategies.
• Collaborate with the Program Planning, Performance Monitoring team and the impact Team to track program impact, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and KPIs (the Enterprise Shared Measures).
• Use data and insights to continuously improve program design, ecosystem strategies, and partnership management.
• Share outcomes, learnings, and insights with internal teams and external stakeholders to foster continuous improvement and thought leadership.

WHO YOU ARE

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in entrepreneurship development, business development services, or ecosystem strengthening.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing entrepreneurship programs, fostering strategic partnerships, and advocating for systemic change.
• Experience working with MSMEs, financial institutions, innovation hubs, and government agencies.
• Strong understanding of entrepreneurship ecosystems, systems thinking, and policy advocacy.
• Experience in applying innovative solutions (digital tools, new business models, etc.) to address entrepreneurial challenges.
• Ability to develop holistic strategies that link business development support with ecosystem strengthening.
• Capacity to anticipate emerging trends and identify innovative approaches to enhance entrepreneurship programs.
• Strong relationship management skills to engage with diverse stakeholders (government, private sector, academia, civil society).
• Experience in negotiating partnership agreements and ensuring mutual accountability.
• Deep understanding of entrepreneurship ecosystems, including systemic barriers and enablers.
• Experience in designing interventions that foster ecosystem collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Competence in using data and insights to inform program strategies and enhance program impact.
• Familiarity with MEL frameworks and evidence-based programming.
• 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.
• Commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is March 21, 2025.

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.

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
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