2015 Q4 Board Book (Staff)

The December 9-10th, 2015 Board Meeting focused on the Foundation leveraging technology to scale programs, and strategic knowledge sharing, while continuing its work in financial inclusion, education, and youth livelihoods in Africa. The Foundation is focused on using technology to reach more clients and to scale projects more efficiently and cost-effectively. The Foundation also commissioned research on the "Digital Lives" of young people in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda to better understand how clients use digital technology.

Key activities and initiatives during this period include:

1) Technology Integration: The Foundation is using technology to drive universal access to financial services, create new ways of teaching and learning, create communities, connect people with information, and match people with work opportunities. Technology-related costs within 36 projects totaled $186M. The Foundation is using technology to change perceptions and teach new skills, create communities, connect people, match people with jobs, and increase program effectiveness.

2) Financial Inclusion: The Foundation is focused on increasing access to financial services through mobile technology, alternative delivery channels, and agent networks. It supports the use of digital payments, data analytics, and more efficient underwriting of smaller loans to increase financial inclusion. The Foundation recognizes the need to provide more options for clients to use digital balances in the local economy.

3) Youth Livelihoods: The Foundation is working to match people with work opportunities through online platforms and socially responsible outsourcing. It aims to enhance the transferable skills of youth and provide career development advice. The Foundation is focused on integrating services into digital platforms already used by young people.

4) Education and Learning: The Foundation supports the use of e-learning programs to scale training cost-effectively, as well as integrating technology to modernize teaching methods. They focus on blended and interactive approaches to learning and recognize the importance of teacher and curriculum, as well as the role of young people in content development.

5) Research and Knowledge Sharing: The Foundation commissioned research on the "Digital Lives" of young people to better understand their use of digital technology. The Foundation also hosted and participated in events to share knowledge and insights. Key findings from the "Digital Lives" research include the lower digital skills of young people in Africa, constraints on online behaviour, and the primary use of online tools for entertainment and social networking. The Foundation recognizes the need to address digital inequality and privacy concerns.

6) Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation has partnered with various organizations, such as GSMA, FINCA, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and others, to implement projects across its program areas. The Foundation is also working with other institutions such as USAID and The Rockefeller Foundation.

Overall, the Mastercard Foundation's activities in the fourth quarter of 2015 demonstrate a commitment to its mission through technology integration, strategic partnerships, and research-driven program development. The Foundation is focused on addressing the barriers to financial inclusion, education, and youth employment, particularly in Africa. The Foundation aims to increase program effectiveness, expand access, and reduce costs by using technology.