Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

About the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the Mastercard Foundation

The largest scholarship and leadership initiative of its kind in Africa, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program prepares talented and diverse young people with a commitment to giving back with the skills and mindsets they need to pursue their aspirations and enrich their communities. The Program is more than just a scholarship. It offers mentoring, leadership skills development, tutoring, internship opportunities, and career services in addition to covering tuition and basic living expenses. 

 

Implemented through a Pan-African and global network of more than 50 universities and non-governmental organizations, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is strengthening the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion and accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, research and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders.

 

The Mastercard Foundation is a Canadian Foundation and one of the world’s largest foundations, with a mission to advance education and financial inclusion. It works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is an independent organization and separate from the company. Its policies, operations and programs are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.

About the Mastercard Foundation at EARTH University Partnership

EARTH is deeply grateful for the University’s longstanding partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The current phase of partnership between the University and the Foundation includes four main components:

  • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH
  • Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program
  • EARTH Institutional Learning Office
  • Partnership Communications

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH

Since 2011, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH University provides educational opportunities to young people from disadvantaged communities in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In addition to providing scholarships for young leaders, the Program at EARTH integrates services such as mentoring, career counselling, service-learning opportunities, and internships. Following successful completion of EARTH University’s four-year program, the majority of Mastercard Foundation Scholars return to their countries as part of a growing movement of leaders committed to transforming global food systems and contributing to sustainable livelihoods across the continent.

Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program

Beginning in 2019, the partnership also developed and launched an exciting new Fellowship Program to facilitate the transition of Mastercard Foundation Scholars of African descent to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across Africa after graduation. 

See what Fellows are saying about their experience in the program:

“Working at GIZ Malawi is an exciting opportunity. Through my job, I have been able to establish connections with peers and farmers, and gained trust from my superiors to independently execute duties despite the fact that I am a recent graduate. I feel like I am a significant asset to the project and this has strengthened my confidence to work towards better results”.

– Yamikani Funsani (EARTH Class of 2019 & Fellow 2023, Malawi)

“ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) is an incredible organization. The people are very supportive and welcoming. My supervisor gave me challenging tasks that have enabled me get out of my comfort zone and kept me grounded. I am very excited about my Fellowship experience and I am eagerly looking forward to learning more.”

– Nancy Musa (EARTH Class of 2021 & Fellow 2023, Zimbabwe)

To learn more about the Fellowship Program

EARTH Institutional Learning Office

In 2022, as part of the partnership, the University launched an Institutional Learning Office to strengthen processes related to evaluation, monitoring, and learning. The Institutional Learning Program is developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to measure the University’s impact as well as to define, measure, and regularly monitor key indicators of performance and progress towards the University’s strategic goals. The Institutional Learning Director collaborates with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Fellowship teams as well as across the institution to assess needs and build capacity. The Learning Program is also working to generate feedback loops across organizational areas to ensure transfer and communication of learnings and leverage progress for continuous improvement and increased effectiveness.

Partnership Communications

Mastercard Foundation and EARTH also work to amplify the positive impact of our partnership through the delivery of effective communications stories and materials about Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Fellows and Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alumni and their unique experiences and impact as part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

For stories and articles about the Mastercard Foundation and EARTH University’s partnership and our Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Fellows and Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alumni, please visit: this link.

About The Mastercard Foundation Scholars at EARTH

Since 2015,

268

Mastercard Foundation Scholars have graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from EARTH

 
57%
of our Mastercard Foundation Scholars to date have been female, and 43% have been male

These Mastercard Foundation Scholars represent

37

countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

 
87

 Mastercard Foundation Scholars are currently pursuing degrees at EARTH

See what one recent Mastercard Foundation Scholar has to say about her experience:

“For me, the Mastercard Foundation [Scholars Program] has been the most important blessing and opportunity of my life to achieve my dream of becoming a professional agricultural engineer and leading agent of change for the world. Undoubtedly, there is a before and an after to my time at EARTH at a professional and personal level…I am currently looking for a job in Colombia, and hopefully it will be an opportunity that allows me to connect again with rural communities. After that, approximately in two or three years I plan to work on the implementation of my company focused on the development of bio-inputs following the principles of circular economy. Following this, I would like to start my Master of Science (Plant Physiology) degree, and after this I am sure that new challenges will come. I hope to be able to share the realization of these new dreams. Thank you very much for everything.” 

– Claudia Lorena Cañas Trochez, (Class of 2023, Colombia)

How to Become a Mastercard Foundation Scholar?

Participants in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program meet all of EARTH’s criteria for admission to the University. As part of the partnership agreement, EARTH awards these scholarships to qualified candidates whose financial circumstances would otherwise prevent them from attending university. The first step to receiving a scholarship from this Program is to apply to EARTH.

Contact Information:

If you have questions or would like more information about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH or the Mastercard Foundation-EARTH University partnership, please contact one of our colleagues as follows:

For information about the Program at EARTH:

Amy Porter: Program Manager, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH

aporter@earth.ac.cr

For information about the Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program:

Naboth Bwambale: Director, Fellowship Program

nbwambale@earth.ac.cr

For information about our Institutional Learning Program:

Kate Flores: Institutional Learning Director

kflores@earth.ac.cr

For information about our Communications efforts:

Alexa Glo: Partnership Communications

aglo@earth.ac.cr

For general / additional information:

Emily Fintel Kaiser: Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University partnership point person

ekaiser@earth.ac.cr

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