Lead, Education and Skills (Ethiopia)

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 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, Education and Skills professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Country Head of Ethiopia, the role will be responsible for supporting the development and design of coherent education and skill development programs aligned with nationally identified priorities and the Foundation’s commitment to enable dignified and fulfilling work for young women and young people in general.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Identify issues and trends that affect the quality of secondary education and TVET, as part of the Foundation’s country strategy and program development processes.
• Provide assistance in identifying skill and workforce development gaps, issues and trends that affect education and economic development during strategy and program development processes.
• Identify and engage with potential implementing partners for country-based Secondary Education/TVET, Higher education, technology-based learning programming and support the development of program proposals.
• Participate in Education/TVET, technology-based teaching and learning (amongst other education-based sectors) partner coordination working groups, task forces and other meetings where relevant.
• Manage current/future programs as appropriate, distilling learnings for the country including facilitating implementing partner coordination, reviewing narrative and financial reporting, undertaking regular partner/site visits and distilling learnings.
• Lead adaptation of the Foundation’s programming and learning related to secondary, TVET, higher education and technology-based learning and teaching systems, and to specific country contexts, leveraging country diagnostics and learning from our portfolio of partners.
• Provide support in design and delivery of appropriate mechanisms to monitor effectiveness and impact of skills development interventions.
• Provide skills and workforce development expertise to support Foundation colleagues’ design and management of programs and other priority countries as required.
• Promote active participation and support of the private sector in the development, definition, and validation of education and training programs.
• Map and coordinate with private, public and development partner interventions in the country to ensure proper alignment in education strategic goals, proper utilization of resources, and consistency across service delivery.
• Leading the coordination efforts; relating to convening relevant Ministries, Non-State Actors and organizing high-level meetings on issues directly related skill development
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, government representatives and other key stakeholders at the country-level, communities of practice and global stakeholders.
• Provide support in identifying skill and workforce development gaps, issues and trends that affect education and economic development during the Foundation’s country strategy and program development processes.

WHO YOU ARE

• Graduate degree in education, economics or a youth development-related field.
• Master’s in Education, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, and/or another relevant field of study is required.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience leading program interventions with partner organizations/grantees; education sector experience is desirable.
• Strong understanding of issues, challenges and trends in and design and implementation of TVET in Ethiopia.
• Program development and execution in the non-profit or public sectors with a focus on Secondary Education/ TVET and workforce development training.
• Skills or workforce development program development and execution, focused on low-income youth
• Demonstrated ability to lead diagnostic and analytic work as well as project design, partner identification and implementation.
• Experience working with or in partnership with non-profit, private or public sectors, particularly in a role relating to skills development in Africa.
• Command of quantitative and qualitative education and labour market analysis techniques.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects with senior levels of government and the private sector.
• Knowledge of skills and workforce development aligned with one or more growth sectors (e.g. agri-food systems, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, creative industries) would be an asset.
• Knowledge in skills and workforce development financing approaches would be an asset.
• Solid experience and knowledge in skills development issues surrounding vulnerable groups (e.g. rural young women, refugee or displaced youth, youth with disabilities 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.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, in Amharic and English.
• 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.

Deadline for Applications is August 10, 2022.

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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