The Mastercard Foundation has opened applications for its Associates Program, offering young people across Africa the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a 12-month internship placement.
The programme is designed to connect talented graduates with internship opportunities through partnerships with external organisations and the Foundation’s partner institutions. It aims to equip participants with leadership, employability, and entrepreneurship skills as they transition into the workforce.
Since its launch in 2023, the initiative has engaged more than 1,000 Associates across 22 countries, including young women, persons with disabilities, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
Eligibility and Inclusion
The programme is open to recent graduates with zero to two years of work experience, as well as alumni of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and other Foundation initiatives. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and seeking meaningful early-career experience.
The Foundation emphasises that the programme is inclusive, ensuring participation from young women, individuals with disabilities, and displaced persons across the continent.
What Participants Will Gain
Selected Associates will benefit from a 12-month internship placement, hands-on work experience, and structured training in leadership and professional skills. Participants will also receive mentorship, access to professional networks, a stipend throughout the internship period, and career transition support.
READ: GUBA Enterprise opens applications for in-person internships in Accra
Application Process
The programme follows a structured journey, beginning with recruitment and selection, followed by placement in internship roles, and concluding with transition pathways into employment or entrepreneurship.
Interested applicants can apply through designated links based on their country of residence or opt for remote roles. Opportunities will be posted on an ongoing basis across regions. Visit any of the below:
Anglophone West Africa Application Link, Francophone Africa Application Link, East Africa Application Link, Southern Africa Application Link, and South Africa Application Link. Visit here for remote roles application link.
Applicants are also encouraged to join the Mastercard Foundation Transitions Community on LinkedIn for application guidance and tips.
