The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program

Trained talent for employers. Real careers for young professionals. One programme built to bridge Africa's biggest employment gap.

Become an Employer Partner
Become an Associate

Every year, thousands of young Nigerians graduate ready to work and spend the next year stuck in a frustrating in-between: overqualified on paper, underexperienced in the eyes of employers. Meanwhile, businesses that need entry-level talent can't find people who are truly workplace-ready.

And in 2023, the Mastercard Foundation partnered with Jobberman to implement the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program.

The Program places trained young professionals aged 18–35 inside real organisations for 12 months with a stipend, structured support, and a clear path forward. In Phase 1, we placed 370 Associates across Nigeria and Ghana. Phase 2 is now live across Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, targeting 3,650 Associates with a strong focus on women, Persons With Disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

Now, here's what that looks like for employers.

Get a Skilled Professional Placed in Your Team for 12 Months

Join the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program as an employer. Host a trained young professional and support Africa's next generation of talent.

Host An Associate

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If you’re an employer looking for motivated, pre-trained professionals with 0–2 years of experience, this is for you.

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By joining our Employer Network, you can host a Mastercard Foundation Associate for 12 months, while the Mastercard Foundation covers the Associate's stipend.

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You provide real-world experience. We provide the talent and support the financial cost.

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program is a 12-month professional development and placement programme designed for young professionals aged 18–35 with 0–2 years of work experience.


These young professionals are called Associates.


Associates go through a rigorous selection and training process before being matched with employers in roles aligned with their skills and career interests.


Employers partner with us across a wide range of industries; providing Associates with meaningful work experience while benefiting from motivated, trained talent.


The programme runs in phases. Following the successful completion of Phase 1, we are now commencing Phase 2, expanding participation across multiple African countries.


Phase 2 includes Employers and Associates from:

If you’re passionate about developing Africa’s talent pipeline while moving your organisation forward, we invite you to collaborate with us.


We are calling on employers from all industries across 5 African countries - Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra-Leone and Gambia - to host Associates for 12 months as part of their enrolment in the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program.

Host An Associate

Employers also benefit from this collaboration. By hosting an Associate, your organisation can:


Build team capacity with minimal salary costs

Access pre-trained, motivated young professionals

Contribute to talent development across Africa

Support diversity, inclusion, and workforce sustainability

Identify potential long-term hires with reduced hiring risk

Must be a legally registered business.

Must have been in active operation for at least 3 years.

Vacant job roles must be entry level (0–2 years of experience).

Expected to provide some form of benefit to Associates — co-funding a portion of the stipend, health insurance, pension, non-monetary benefits, hosting PWDs or IDPs, or transitioning strong Associates to full-time employment after the programme.

Must have a structured workplace reporting system and adequate supervision for Associates, with the capacity to provide quality work experience.

Must be able to provide necessary work tools; laptops, safety gear, and relevant equipment.

Providing health insurance.

Contributing a percentage of the Associate's stipend.

Contributing the employer portion of pension payments.

Supporting the inclusion of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

Host An Associate

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program is more than a placement. It is a structured, 12-month professional development experience designed to give you the skills, the experience, and the network to launch a career that lasts.

Apply Now

Associates are young professionals aged 18–35 with 0–2 years of work experience. If that is you, this programme was built with your next step in mind.


Before you apply, you are invited to go through the career site with a list of open job roles and determine if the listings match your desired role(s). If they do, you may then apply.


Before you are placed, you go through a rigorous selection and training process; including Prep2Soar, a professional readiness programme that equips you with the workplace skills employers actually value. You are then matched with an employer in a role aligned with your skills and career interests.

A monthly stipend so you can focus on your growth, not just survival.

Professional skills training through our Prep2Soar programme, before your placement begins.

A structured, 12-month paid work placement inside a real organisation.

Hands-on experience in your field, working on real projects with real teams.

Mentorship and ongoing support from the programme team throughout your placement.

A meaningful credential; real experience and a track record that opens doors long after your placement ends.

Access to a growing network of young professionals and employer partners across five African countries.

The programme is currently open to candidates from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.

Apply Now

Before You Apply

Read through the steps below so you understand the process and requirements before you begin. Applying happens in two stages: first the Program Application, then your job application(s) on the Career Site. Please complete them in that order.

How to Apply

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Step 1: Complete the Program Application Form

Click the Apply Now button below to open the Program Application form. This confirms your eligibility for the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program.

Once you submit, look out for the confirmation notification on your screen. It confirms your application went through and contains the link to the Career Site.

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Step 2: Apply for a Job on the Career Site

If you are eligible, use the link in your confirmation notification to visit the Career Site, browse the open roles, and apply for one that interests you. Upload your CV when prompted. Before you apply, make sure that:

  • Your CV is tailored to the role
  • You meet the requirements of the job
  • You are genuinely interested in the role and willing to take it up if selected
  • The job location is within a reasonable distance from where you live, where applicable, and you are legally eligible to work in the country where the job is based
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Step 3: Apply for More Roles

Interested in other roles? You can return to the Career Site at any time. Use the same email address across all your applications so your status is linked across every job application you submit.

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Step 4: Prep2Soar Training and Employer Matching

If you are eligible for both the Program and the role you applied for, you will be enrolled in Prep2Soar training, followed by employer matching and final interviews.

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Step 5: Monitor Your Email

Check your email regularly for updates. Only job applications from eligible, Program-qualified candidates will be reviewed. Because of the high volume of applications, only candidates who are successful at each stage will receive further communication. If you are selected to proceed, you will receive an email with instructions on the next steps and onboarding.

Got questions? Send an email to mcfap@jobberman.com.

Apply Now

What benefits are employers expected to provide or contribute to an Associate?

Contributing a percentage of the Associate's stipend (co-funding), covering health insurance and pension, retaining the Associate after one year, and prioritising inclusion by hiring IDPs and PWDs.

How many Associates can organisations recruit?

An employer can host up to 10% of their total staff strength. For example, an employer with 50 staff can host up to 5 Associates.

What minimum criteria is required for an employer to host an Associate?

Employers must be legally registered, operationally stable for at least 3 years, and able to provide necessary work tools such as laptops. You will also be required to submit a CAC Registration Certificate, Tax Clearance Certificate, and Company Organogram.

Can employers submit roles requiring more than 2 years of experience?

No. The programme is exclusively for Associates with 0–2 years of experience.

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