Deadline: 30th April, 2025.
Are you a young African passionate about driving transformational change through data-driven decisions in African agrifood systems?
Are you ready to make a difference? Measure impact – Create change – Transform Africa’s agrifood systems landscape?
Join the Young Impact Associates (YIA) – Agriculture Focus Fellowship and be part of shaping Africa’s development narrative.
The YIA Fellowship in Agrifood Systems is a year-long flagship program designed to prepare a new generation of African leaders capable to make a difference in the impact measurement field and contribute to driving transformative change in Africa’s agrifood landscape.
The Fellowship provides a unique learning and professional development experience.
The program will equip a new generation of African professionals with skills, networks and
motivation to drive transformative, people-centered, scalable impact measurement
approaches across the continent.
The Young Impact Associates (YIAs) will contribute to Mastercard Foundation’s transformative agenda of “fostering the professional growth and development of young impact leaders by developing their expertise and maintaining their engagement and interest in the impact field”. The YIA Fellowship will support African young professionals in data and impact measurement:
- To enhance employability by equipping the young professionals with the skills and
practical experience needed to secure fulfilling roles in impact measurement,
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L), and development evaluation. - To increase their capacity to articulate impact and influence evidence-based decisions
in agrifood systems. - To contribute to the transformative agenda of the impact measurement field by
shaping the trajectory of impact assessment in Africa towards contextual
considerations of the nexus of social dimensions and agrifood systems.
Fellowship structure
The Fellowship will include a combination of in-person and virtual training, workshops, and
coaching sessions. The Young Impact Associates will benefit from:
- Practical experience – On-location work placements with leading organizations in
the impact measurement sector for intensive industry immersion experiences - Mentorship and coaching – Guidance and support from seasoned professionals
- Customized training in leadership, impact measurement and related topics
- Peer learning and collaboration to strengthen the YIA networks and promote intra-country partnerships
Benefits
- Upon your successful selection, you will join the YIA Fellowship for one year and receive a monthly stipend throughout the program’s duration -12 months. The program will also cover non-financial items, which will be detailed at the start of the Fellowship activities.
- Upon completing the Fellowship, you will become a part of the Mastercard Foundation global alumni, connecting you with a community of passionate individuals committed to leading positive change in the continent.
Eligibility
- Nationals of Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, residing in Africa
- Must be aged between 18 and 35 years
- Engaged in full-time, part-time work, self-employment, studying, or unemployed
- With a good command of both written and spoken English
- Have a minimum of a diploma, bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines including social sciences, agricultural sciences, economics, data sciences, environmental and climate science, international development, policy and governance, etc.
- Mission-driven interest and passion for the impact measurement field
- Motivation and clear aspirations to leverage data-driven approaches
- Commitment to a 12-month full-time program participation
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through this link. The applicants should fill
out all the necessary fields. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the
Selection committee.
Applicants should have the required documents ready before starting the application
process. These include:
- An updated CV (maximum 3 pages) including the full names, email, and telephone
of two reference contacts - A one-page motivation letter outlining the reasons for joining the YIA Fellowship,
expectations and professional aspirations
For more information.