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 are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.

To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.

Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Over the last decades, targeted investment has become a key driver of economic development, societal change, and job creation. To accelerate the Mastercard Foundation’s mission towards Young Africa works – 30 million young Africans – particularly women – have dignified and fulfilling work – and towards an ecosystem in Africa that sustainably creates enables jobs, the Foundation has established the Africa Catalytic Investment Fund (ACIF). This exciting initiative will invest in mid to large African enterprises, with a view to building African champions who can support the Continent’s next wave of growth. ACIF will invest directly by taking significant minority stakes in established, growth-oriented businesses as well as commit to Africa-focused private equity and private credit funds operating on the Continent.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

We are seeking Investment Officers to join our team and play a pivotal role in the build out of ACIF and its early investments. The position offers the opportunity make, manage and eventually exit direct investments in African champions. Investment Officers will also have the opportunity to work on intermediated investments, including fund commitments, co-investments and creative investment products to catalyze third party capital. As a core team member, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of ACIF, the clients and companies, and the African youth we serve. More specific responsibilities include:

• Evaluating and executing direct investments in African firms positioned to deliver on ACIF and the Foundation’s objectives.
• Analyzing investment opportunities, including developing and testing assumptions, building financial models, assessing historical performance and developing and drafting investment memorandums.
• Developing valuations, investment structures and key terms of investments, in collaboration with the ACIF team.
• Deep analysis to test and refine investment cases, and defend assumptions, forecasts and investment theses to the broader ACIF team and Investment Committee.
• Working with financial, legal, tax, and impact advisors to undertake due diligence of investment opportunities.
• Supporting the execution of transaction processes, including legal documentation, required transaction structures, overseeing meeting of conditions precedent, and closing.
• Working with management teams to develop and align on forecasts – both financial and impact.
• Supporting the creation of innovative investment structures to achieve ACIF’s objectives, particularly of sustainable job creation.
• Supporting management teams to sustainably grow operations and create dignified employment opportunities as well as to deliver on growth and expansion objectives, M&A, product or services growth, etc.
• Ensuring appropriate reporting and performance against investment theses of the portfolio.

WHO YOU ARE

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics or an associated field from a recognized master’s degree or CFA preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ work experience, with at least 3 years’ experience in private equity or private credit investing, with a strong preference for investments in Africa.
  • Understanding of investment fundamentals, key drivers of major African markets, and risks of operating in complex markets.
• Skills
  • Excellent quantitative analytical skills (financial modeling, financial analysis, etc) and strong written communication and presentation skills (including power point, memo writing, etc).
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively research and assess investment opportunities in emerging markets.
  • Demonstrated analytical skills to interpret complex financial data.
  • Flexible, adaptable, and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Values
  • Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values
  • A partnership approach to working with management teams, co-workers, co-investors and other counterparties
  • Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision