Lead, Agriculture Primary Production - 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, and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the workforce, 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.

If you are an experienced Agriculture Primary Production professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Country Program Coordinator; the Lead, Agriculture Primary Production will be responsible for building impactful country programs by setting direction and engaging partners throughout program design and implementation. The Lead, Agriculture Primary Production is expected to provide expertise to identify constraints that prevent agricultural systems from functioning effectively at the country level and incorporating the agricultural sector’s needs into country strategies.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Provide agricultural sector expertise to support Foundation country teams in the design and management of agricultural and agri-finance programs.
• Define strategy and priorities to support the growth of support MSMEs operating in the primary production of agricultural value chains in the country, in collaboration with colleagues and partnership with various stakeholders.
• Identify challenges and opportunities in the agri-food systems to drive job growth.
• Collaborate with country teams and other team members in the development or implementation of new programs, including co-creation of programs and due diligence practices.
• Communicate progress and learnings from projects to foundation colleagues and the wider development community.
• Collaborate with the program and country teams to leverage synergies across programs and geographies.
• Manage current programs, distilling learnings for Foundation staff and country teams.
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the agricultural and agri-finance sector, including climate change.
• Contribute insights to the Foundation’s thought leadership on youth employment in Africa.
• Lead and supervise teams of colleagues and/or junior experts by providing coaching and support necessary for success and growth.
• Identify and help overcome challenges and other barriers to team effectiveness.
• Lead and supervise teams of colleagues and/or junior experts by providing coaching and support necessary for success and growth.
• Identify and help overcome challenges and other barriers to team effectiveness.

 WHO YOU ARE

• A Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business, Agricultural Economics, and/or Financial Inclusion is an asset.
• Minimum ten (10) years of relevant experience in financing agricultural companies and farmers is required.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership and management experience
• Experience working in commercial agricultural companies operational in Africa.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the role of financial inclusion in economic growth and development, particularly in Africa, and as it relates to smallholder farmers.
• Understands market and systemic challenges to financial inclusion for rural and agricultural economics in Africa and best practices for addressing them
• Experience and understanding in a variety of value chains (cash and food crops), the small businesses and SMEs along the value chain, and supply chain/logistics in the agri-food system.
• Understanding of the role agri-food and rural SMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation for youth.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of agricultural markets in Africa and the systemic challenges leading to stagnant growth.
• Preferred management experience in agriculture finance, value chain development, agriculture production and process financing, agriculture association and cooperative development, and/or agriculture trade and marketing.
• Minimum ten (10) years of relevant experience in financing agricultural companies and farmers is required.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership and management experience
• Experience working in commercial agricultural companies operational in Africa.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the role of financial inclusion in economic growth and development, particularly in Africa, and as it relates to smallholder farmers.
• Understands market and systemic challenges to financial inclusion for rural and agricultural economics in Africa and best practices for addressing them
• Experience and understanding in a variety of value chains (cash and food crops), the small businesses and SMEs along the value chain, and supply chain/logistics in the agri-food system.
• Understanding of the role agri-food and rural SMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation for youth.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of agricultural markets in Africa and the systemic challenges leading to stagnant growth.
• Preferred management experience in agriculture finance, value chain development, agriculture production and process financing, agriculture association and cooperative development, and/or agriculture trade and marketing.
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills are required.
• Our results-driven and motivated by a sense of performance excellence and a sense of urgency; possess a proactive and ‘self-starter’ mentality.
• Possesses a global mindset and professional maturity and demonstrates sensitivity to working within different cultures.
• You commit to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.