Mastercard Foundation Associate Program

What is the Mastercard Foundation Associate Program?

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program is set to place 3,550 young East Africans in exciting, 12-month placements. Over a 12 months period, successful Candidates will become Associates who will gain real-world experience with a company, build skills that employers love, and take part in training that helps them grow both professionally and personally.

What’s Expected From Successful Associates:-

Here’s what we expect from Associates in their 12-month placement during the Mastercard Foundation Associate Program:

• Show up and deliver — reliably, respectfully, professionally
• Take initiative — ask questions, offer ideas, learn from mistakes
• Be a learner — treat every challenge as a growth opportunity
• Stay engaged — attend training sessions and complete check-ins
• Complete a survey every 3 months — this helps us support you better

How the Placement Works

• You report to the company you’re placed with — they are your day-to-day managers.
• The company pays your monthly stipend — it’s their investment in your growth.
• Shortlist delivers your soft skills training — we run bi-weekly Prep2Soar training sessions to help you build durable skills needed in your career journey.

If anything goes wrong or you’re unsure about something:

• Reach out to Shortlist at [email protected]— we’re your first point of contact.
• Use the Incident Report Form — if you’re facing challenges, don’t keep quiet. We’re here to listen and we want to help.

What Associates will Learn: Soft Skills for Real Life

We’ll meet for interactive virtual sessions covering:

Prep2Soar Program Overview