Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.

Title: Lead, Access to Finance and Financial Inclusion

Location: Lagos

Employment Type: Full-time

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Country Director, the Finance Lead has a primary focus on broadening access to financial services and providing strategic guidance for our country’s programs.
• S/he will play a central role in shaping and implementing strategies that empower underserved communities, improve access to financial services, and enhance economic opportunities in these vital sectors across Nigeria.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Develop and execute a comprehensive financial inclusion and access to finance strategy that aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s mission and values, focusing on expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, partners, regulators, and governmental agencies to drive sustainable and impactful financial inclusion and access to finance initiatives.
• Lead the creation of a long-term vision for financial inclusion and access to finance in Nigeria, with special attention to the agriculture, creative, and digital sectors, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s objectives.
• Design, lead, and oversee access to finance initiatives that enhance the availability and affordability of financial services for underserved communities.
• Develop and implement innovative and blended financing models, including digital financial services and risk mitigation instruments, to reach remote and marginalized populations.
• Foster the growth of microfinance institutions and community-based financial service providers to extend financial access.
• Develop and deliver sector-specific capacity-building programs for stakeholders, enhancing their ability to provide and utilize financial services effectively. Organize training workshops, seminars, and knowledge-sharing events within the agriculture, creative, and digital sectors to promote skill development and growth.
• Identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships with financial institutions, technology providers, government bodies, regulators, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the reach and impact of financial inclusion and access to finance programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders to foster collaboration and drive collective action towards achieving financial inclusion and access to finance goals.
• Provide expert advisory for sector programs in agriculture, creative, and the digital economy, identifying opportunities to integrate financial inclusion and access to finance strategies for maximum impact.
• Design, implement, and oversee innovative financial inclusion and access to finance programs tailored to the agriculture, creative, and digital sectors. Leverage technology, data analytics, and best practices to expand access to financial services, credit, savings, and insurance.
• Monitor the progress of programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment with sector-specific objectives and desired outcomes.
• Advocate for policies and regulatory reforms that foster inclusive financial systems and support sector growth, using insights from foundation-sponsored research to drive tangible economic impact.
• Define sector-specific KPIs and metrics to assess the impact of financial inclusion and access to finance programs and advisory efforts.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, showcasing progress and outcomes within the agriculture, creative, and digital sectors.

Who You Are

• Master’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field (Ph.D. is a plus).
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in financial services, Impact Investing, inclusive and blended finance, microfinance, fintech, or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of the Nigerian financial landscape, regulatory environment, and the entrepreneurship, agriculture, creative, and digital sectors.
• Proven track record in designing, implementing, and enabling successful financial inclusion strategies and initiatives, with expertise in providing advisory for sector programs.
• Demonstrated experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and coalition building.
• Experience working with international development organizations, such as the World Bank, USAID, CGAP, and DFIs, is a valuable advantage.
• Ability to think strategically, analyze complex problems, and make data-driven decisions.
• Flexible, adaptable, agile, and able to execute a range of job duties with multiple deadlines and changing priorities.
• Proven excellence in verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures and to distill complex information and data into accessible conversation and written pieces.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.