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.

UNDERSTANDING CANADA PROGRAMS AT THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation has begun working within Canada in partnership with Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions to listen, learn, and best understand how we can act in meaningful ways. The EleV strategy was co-created with Indigenous communities, young people, and partners to enable 30,000 Indigenous youth to complete their education and transition to dignified work aligned with their values and aspirations.

As reflected in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, education is a key driver of improved socio-economic well-being. Through building partnerships with Indigenous communities, we look to expand our initiative ultimately helping to support a generation of transformative Indigenous young leaders who will be change agents within their communities. We believe that by setting a bold target, we will encourage engagement across sectors and create momentum that will elevate the strengths and opportunities of Indigenous youth. In keeping with our approach, Indigenous communities and young people will be the drivers of this transformation. The program will promote innovations to address longer-term systemic change to achieve economic prosperity and social well-being within Indigenous communities.

The EleV team oversees current and emerging partnerships related to Indigenous education. Consistent with our overall vision and Youth Africa Works strategy, we will share learnings and opportunities to connect across the work of the Foundation. While operating in distinct contexts, the centrality of youth voice and vision, affirmation of culture and identity, and priority to enhance community capacity for self-determination are common threads upon which our work is strengthened and reinforced.

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

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Country head, the Lead, Safeguarding will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing the Foundation’s safeguarding initiatives, processes and governance mechanisms that are aimed at actualizing the Foundation’s desire to take responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all young people who participate in our programs.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Contribute to the development and review of the Foundation’s safeguarding strategies and initiatives.
• Lead the development and implementation of a holistic child & youth safeguarding strategy.
• Creatively contribute to the design and delivery of safeguarding programs and initiatives at the Foundation.
• Continually review safeguarding approaches aimed at promoting youth-centered safeguarding practices and ensuring continued compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and expertise on safeguarding across the Foundation, working closely with related teams to ensure safeguarding is integrated into everything the Foundation does.
• Lead important work on developing and embedding the safeguarding framework throughout the Foundation.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and controls to advance child & youth safeguarding across the Foundation.
• Develop and manage current and future programs and initiatives within the Country.
• Integrate child & youth safeguarding measures throughout the organization including partner selection with ongoing review and due diligence.
• Integrate child & youth safeguarding measures into communications with partner organizations.
• Provide high-quality, context specific support to staff and partners to increase awareness of the local safeguarding context and to adapt safeguarding measures as appropriate.
• Develop and manage Country incident reporting and management system in line with the policy of the Foundation and in collaboration with relevant teams in Country and the organization.
• Embed youth-centric internal escalation and reporting processes.
• Design and implement child and youth safeguarding training programs for employees and partners.
• Continually assess and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Safeguarding program; review and update child & youth safeguarding policies and practices on a regular basis.
• Provide regular reports on progress, results and learning regarding safeguarding to Foundation staff, senior management and partners.
• Integrate child & youth safeguarding measures into recruitment and performance management processes.
• Stay appraised of leading safeguarding practices and contribute to safeguarding forums and communities of practice and represent the Foundation in these spaces.
• Collaborate and work with the programs team and a wide-range of stakeholders across the Foundation including the cross-functional Safeguarding Committee(s) within the Foundation to advance safeguarding priorities.
• Act as the main point of contact to receive and manage any safeguarding issues/matters.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, International Development or Global Studies or another related field is required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating child and youth safeguarding initiatives, gained in law enforcement, social work, humanitarian or program development.
• Substantial experience working with children and youth in international development and humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity with safeguarding risks associated with social media and responding to security breaches involving information of children and youth.
• Astute ability to identify and mitigate risks.
• Experience in incident investigation and applying continuous learning to improve and strengthen safeguarding measures.
• Experience developing and delivering engaging and effective safeguarding training.
• Highly developed knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding and privacy legislation, guidance and best in Africa and beyond.
• Ability to manage conflict and handle sensitive issues with a results-driven approach.
• Ability to exercise appropriate and sound judgement and discretion.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills with the ability to articulate culturally and contextually relevant information to a variety of clients at the right time and with the right scope.
• Risk identification and management.
• Incident identification and crisis management.
• Ability to inspire others to make significant change and act as a change agent.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and work with a collaborative team.
• Proficiency in English with verbal, written and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures. Proficiency in Amharic and additional Ethiopian languages is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills and ability to collaborate and form effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating tact, diplomacy and sensitivity to culturally diverse environments.
• Flexible, intellectually curious and open. Must be comfortable with ambiguity, be receptive to new ideas, and is also willing to change when presented with best options.
• Results driven and motivated by a high sense of performance excellence with a sense of urgency.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
• Professional maturity and sensitivity to working within different cultures.
• Impeccable integrity.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• 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.