2015 Q1 Board Book (Staff)

The March 26-27th, 2015 Board Meeting focused on the Foundation's program implementation, strategic partnerships, and knowledge sharing, while continuing its work in financial inclusion, economic opportunities for youth, and education in Africa. The Foundation aims to enable disadvantaged youth to achieve their economic goals by addressing constraints at the client, institution, and ecosystem levels.

Key activities and initiatives include:

1) Financial Inclusion: The Foundation launched the Fund for Rural Prosperity, aiming to increase access to financial services for smallholder farmers. It also supports programs that provide access to financial services such as savings, credit and insurance. The Foundation is also working to promote responsible and sustainable financial services in a well-regulated environment.

2) Economic Opportunities for Youth: The Foundation is working to provide youth with work-readiness and entrepreneurship skills, and access to transition-to-work services. It is also supporting programs that provide digital skills training and employment opportunities.

3) Education and Learning: The Foundation is expanding access to secondary and tertiary education through its Scholars Program. It is also focused on developing the transformative leadership skills of young people within the Scholars Program.

4) Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation is collaborating with various organizations, including the Equity Group Foundation, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and the Education Development Center. It is also working with financial service providers, mobile operators, and agribusinesses.

5) Knowledge Sharing and Thought Leadership: The Foundation is disseminating knowledge through publications and events. It also participated in various conferences and events to share its learning and insights. The Foundation is also working to understand how increased access to financial and agricultural services can impact the lives of smallholder farmers.

6) Program Implementation and Evaluation: The Foundation is implementing various programs and conducting research to assess their impact. It is also working to understand the financial needs of smallholder farmers and how to meet them sustainably.

7) Internal Development: The Foundation is focused on strengthening its culture and systems, and has goals in place to improve its performance measures and engagement. The Foundation is also reviewing its grant-making process to understand timelines for developing programs.

Overall, the Mastercard Foundation's activities in the first quarter of 2015 demonstrate its commitment to its mission through strategic program development, innovative partnerships, and a focus on learning and impact. The Foundation is focused on increasing access to financial services, educational opportunities and economic opportunities for youth, particularly in Africa, and building its capacity for long term impact.