2019 Q3 Board Book (Staff)

The September 19-20th, 2019 Board Meeting demonstrated a continued focus on its "Young Africa Works" strategy through program implementation, strategic partnerships, and a focus on learning and evaluation. This quarter includes significant activity in various African countries, as well as the expansion of the Scholars Program and the EleV program in Canada.

Key activities and initiatives include:

1) Country Program Implementation: The Foundation is actively implementing programs in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal, with a focus on engaging local partners and aligning with national priorities. For example, in Rwanda, the Hanga Ahazaza initiative aims to enable 30,000 young people to find work in the tourism and hospitality sector, and the Leaders in Teaching initiative is designed to strengthen the quality of secondary education. In Kenya, the Foundation is partnering with Equity Bank and KCB to support MSMEs. In Ghana, the Foundation is working with CAMFED and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to support women-owned businesses. In Senegal, the Foundation is partnering with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation and CICAN.

2) Program Expansion and Innovation: The Foundation is expanding the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program with a focus on excluded populations and establishing clear pathways for scholars to transition to work. The Foundation is also expanding the EleV program to support Indigenous youth across Canada. There is a focus on supporting Indigenous youth to complete post-secondary education and transition to work.

3) Measurement and Evaluation: The Foundation is placing a strong emphasis on measurement and evaluation, including the development of a measurement system to capture the impact of its work beyond individual partnerships. The Foundation is also working to create a platform for data and information sharing among partners. A "Design Workshop on Measuring Success" was held with the Board to align around a vision of success for the Young Africa Works strategy. A longitudinal study was launched to understand Scholars' trajectories as they transition to work.

4) Partnership Development: The Foundation is actively engaging with a variety of stakeholders including government agencies, private sector companies, and training providers. For example, the Foundation is working with the Rwanda Development Board to promote the tourism and hospitality sector and with the Ministry of Education to improve the quality of teaching. The Foundation is also working with financial institutions to expand access to finance for MSMEs.

5) Operational Development: The Foundation is focused on building strong country teams and establishing a governance committee in various locations. The Foundation is also working to address risks and rewards in its programming and is creating principles for working with the private and public sectors.

Overall, the Mastercard Foundation's activities in the third quarter of 2019 demonstrate a strong commitment to its "Young Africa Works" strategy, with a focus on program implementation, learning and evaluation, and building strong partnerships. The Foundation is actively working to empower young people with education, skills and employment opportunities.