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Background

The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, 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. Working with young women and men in Africa represents a unique opportunity to develop, implement, and learn from programming and influencing activities using approaches that value African and Indigenous knowledge and ways of being and knowing.

The Nigeria-based Preston Associates for International Development (PAID) led consortium that includes Cloneshouse Nigeria, Itad, and Global Integrity, is providing technical support as an Impact Partner Organization to the Mastercard Foundation, on its Young Africa Works – Young Impact Associate Program.

What the YIA is About

The Young Impact Associates program offers a robust curriculum of Result-based Monitoring and Evaluation training, networking activities and mentorship to help YIAs gain real-world skills, tools, and experiences needed to amplify impact and lead the next generation of African evaluators.

The YIA program activities will include a blended training and field practical experiential learning, a 4 hours per month mentorship program, boot camps, exchange programs, stand-ups and brown bag meetings, hangouts, connections to other MEL networks, and support to Evaluation conferences.

These experiences will allow YIAs to gain insights from the wealth of knowledge of experienced facilitators, while planning the way they would like to re-apply their new skills, networks, and knowledge after they graduate from the program.

Video Recording: Zoom Informational Session on the MCF YIA Program – Cohort 2

We had earlier announced the informational session about the YIA program on zoom, which held on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 10am GMT+1. In the zoom session (which we recorded), we expounded on the YIA Program – Cohort 2, and answered all attendees questions pertaining to the YIA Program. To-rewatch the session, click on the video below.

Please note that we are accepting NIN-Slips from applicants as a means of Identification, in addition to drivers’ license, voter’s card, and travel/international passport. 

Watch the YIA Promo Video Below

What YIA’s Will Do

Key components of the program that YIAs will engage include:

  • An orientation program to welcome the cohort to the YIA program and a concluding graduation program to celebrate the cohort’s achievements and present their action plans.
  • A six weeks Result Based M&E training course exploring topics in tandem with international best practices, methodologies, theories and concepts.
  • YIA boot camp is designed to strengthen practical skills and reinforce the learning of participants.
  • Write blog posts quarterly to share experience in incorporating African and Indigenous knowledge and/or youth-focused lenses to MEL work.
  • YIA exchange program that embeds associates with NGOs and other MEL programs delivered by Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works consortium members to gain practical experience, expand their networks and perspectives to help advance their work in the M&E field.
  • An opportunity to facilitate skillshares and present papers with different evaluation community groups

Expected Timelines

August 2023: YIAs Announced

September 2023: YIA onboarding/Opening Bootcamp

September 2023: YIAs admitted to online learning platform

January 2024: Exchange program begins

August 2024: YIA Program ends

Application Process Overview

Please note that application for admission to the YIA program is entirely FREE and online:

There are no paper forms for applicants to complete. There is no application fee or any cost to apply.

Applicants are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages), two letters of professional recommendation, a personal statement on how the YIA program will allow you to advance in your professional career plan (word document of 500 words maximum).

Please note that we are accepting NIN-Slips from applicants as a means of Identification, in addition to drivers’ license, voter’s card, and travel/international passport. 

Requirements

Individuals with an interest in the fields of evaluation, data collection and analysis, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Eligibility

If successful, YIA must work full time, defined here as 40 hours a week, on the work outlined in the YIA application, and it must remain as your main professional/career priority. Therefore, it is strongly advised that applicants should not have any other employment or be engaged in any other business as this would conflict with the YIA programme and make engagement difficult by successful candidates.

  • Must have recently completed NYSC.
  • Demonstrate interest in evaluation, data collection and analysis, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
  • Be a Nigerian citizen based in Nigeria.
  • Be 25 or older by September 1, 2023, and be no older than 35.
  • Be available to participate in the YIA boot camp and onboarding fully.
  • Be available to participate fully in programming and support offerings. If successful, YIA must work full time, defined here as 40 hours a week, on the work outlined in the YIA application, and it must remain your main professional/career priority. Therefore, it is strongly advised that applicants must REFRAIN from having any other employment or being engaged in any other business, as this would conflict with the YIA programme and make engagement difficult for successful candidates.
  • Be able to communicate in English proficiently (the program is offered in English)
  • Applicants must have proficiency in MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
  • Bring trustworthiness and diplomacy to all interactions​.
  • Be respectful, direct, and culturally sensitive.

Individuals from all gender, academic and professional backgrounds and different abilities are welcome to apply. In addition, youth at risk of marginalization, such as people with disabilities (PWDs), refugees, young mothers, and those residing in informal settlements and rural areas, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits

  • Contribute to youth economic empowerment in Nigeria: Connect and collaborate with young men and women, communities and global partners to help grow the evaluation community of practice in Nigeria, with focus on the fields of evaluation, data collection and analysis, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
  • Coaching and mentorship via blended learning approaches including online and offline trainings, on-the-job-learning, and structured tutorials
  • Personal and professional growth: You’ll receive unique opportunities to boost your CV and build transferable skills, such as cross-cultural communication, methods of evaluation, data collection and analysis, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
  • Access to high-quality training and resources: You’ll receive specialized training and resources from our global partners who are highly acclaimed in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation and International Development, Data Analysis, and Indigenous ways of Knowing
  • Regular partner meetings to share learning. These are opportunities to share and learn from one another and in some instances, the happenings in other related programs as well.
  • Be part of an international network: You’ll connect with like-minded, passionate Nigerians, partner organizations and youth around the nation. Joining this network will include first access to future African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) opportunities, domestically and internationally.

YIAs will receive a monthly stipend to cover basic costs Air travel to and from any YIA program-related activities are all covered.

How to Apply

Applications will open on Friday, April 14, 2023 and close on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 5pm WAT.

Please Note: Candidates who applied previously between August and September 2022 are required to re-apply if they are still interested in the programme.