Mastercard Foundation Associates Program Cohort 2 with Jobberman 2026: Apply for 12-Month Paid Work Placements Across West Africa

Overview

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program Cohort 2, delivered with Jobberman, offers young professionals 12-month paid work placements with employers in selected West African countries. The programme aims to ease the move from education to meaningful employment by combining workplace experience with employability training, mentorship, networking and career-transition support. The Foundation says more than 1,000 Associates across 22 countries have taken part since 2023. In the Jobberman-led phase, participating countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, with entry-level professional placements. Jobberman is the regional placement partner for Anglophone West Africa.

What you get

Associates are placed with host organizations for about 12 months and receive a monthly stipend throughout. There is no single stipend amount: it varies with placement location, host country, industry and the nature of the placement, and it is usually paid in local currency. Associates also gain hands-on experience, supervision, mentorship, leadership development and employability training. Depending on the host employer, work may fall in areas such as administration, finance, human resources, marketing, communications, technology, business development, operations, project management, research, data, customer service, sales, development programmes or monitoring and evaluation.

About the programme

The programme addresses the difficulty many African graduates face in getting professional experience after their studies. It has three stages: recruitment and selection, placement into internship roles, and transition pathways after the placement. The broader aim is to help participants move into sustainable employment.

Who can apply

The programme is for early-career young professionals in the participating countries. The listing text does not spell out detailed eligibility criteria, so applicants should consult the official guidance and the roles advertised on Jobberman's Cohort 2 portal.

How to apply

Candidates apply during the Cohort 2 application window through the Jobberman portal. They should be cautious about unofficial sites or social media posts that advertise a fixed stipend unless an individual vacancy states one.

Key dates

The application window is reported as running from 21 September 2026 to 21 October 2026, with a deadline of 21 October 2026.