CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)

Pathways to Scale (P2S) Project

About the Program

Pathways to Scale (P2S) is a five-year young women-focused program of the Mastercard Foundation, implemented in partnership with WUSC and supported by Seedstars. Operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Rwanda, P2S strengthens women-owned and women-led enterprises through provision of gender-focused business development services and access to finance to unlock 93,000 work opportunities for young women, particularly young rural women. You can read more about P2S here.

About the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)

To prioritize the perspectives of young women, particularly those in rural communities, P2S is establishing a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). This committee will act as a strategic platform, enabling young women to contribute to the implementation and evaluation of the program. Through collaboration with the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), we aim to ensure that the project remains relevant, inclusive, and impactful for the communities it serves.

Purpose of the YAC

The Youth Advisory Committee aims to:

• Ensure the voices, experiences, and aspirations of young rural women inform program decisions
• Strengthen youth and gender responsiveness across all project activities
• Promote inclusive, locally relevant, and impactful programming

Key Roles and Responsibilities

YAC members will:

• Provide feedback and recommendations on program design and delivery.
• Identify barriers affecting young rural women entrepreneurs and propose solutions.
• Ensure gender and youth perspectives are integrated into decision-making.
• Review communication materials and outreach strategies for accessibility and relevance.
• Participate in youth-focused events, community engagement, and knowledge-sharing.
• Support dissemination of program information within their communities and networks.

A more detailed workplan for the successful applicants will be shared after selection and during the YAC onboarding.

Who Should Apply?

We are seeking 7 - 9 dynamic young women leaders (ages 18 -35) from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be a young woman aged 18 - 35 (and remain within this age range during the term).
• Must have experience running a business either as an individual, or in a group setting that you either own/co-own or are a key decision-maker in, preferably in a rural area.
• Demonstrate commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
• Have relevant experience, knowledge, skills and interest in entrepreneurship and youth development.
• Be able to represent and advocate for peers effectively, with a good track record of personal and professional conduct.
• Have strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset

We strongly encourage applications from:

• Young rural women (at least 70% of members will be from rural communities).
• Young women with disabilities.
• Refugees and internally displaced young women.
• Women from diverse geographic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Key Competencies

Selected members should demonstrate:

• Ability to provide constructive, solution-oriented feedback
• Commitment to gender equality and youth leadership
• Strong community engagement and peer mobilization skills
• Willingness to learn, share knowledge, and collaborate
• Basic working knowledge of English (desirable but not mandatory)

Term and Commitment

• Duration: 2 years (with possibility of renewal)
• Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month
• Participation in at least 4 meetings annually (primarily virtual)
• Occasional participation in additional events, reviews, or working sessions
• 1-2 in-person meetings may be organized (subject to feasibility)

Support and Benefits

• While this is a voluntary advisory role, a modest honorarium will be provided to recognize members’ contributions to P2S inclusive of a data stipend for participation in virtual meetings.
• Opportunity to influence a major multi-country initiative.
• Exposure to regional and international development networks.
• Professional development opportunities (subject to availability)
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• Travel and accommodation costs covered for in-person engagements.

Application Process

Interested candidates should complete the application form here and submit it before 4 May, 2026

For any questions, please contact [email protected] and cc [email protected]