Paper short abstract:

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners are deliberately organized as a learning partnership to maximize impact and influence change through systematic knowledge creation and mobilization. Spaces for authentic conversations are created so that they can share experience and learn together.

Paper long abstract:

Learning — the continuous process of reflection on experience, incorporating tacit knowledge as well evidence from research and evaluation— is a critical component of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Investing in knowledge generation and mobilization is a key part of the Scholars Program strategy. Answering learning questions and addressing knowledge gaps around what works and why is critical for maximizing the impact of the Program. Learning also supports Program decision-making and strategy development and builds an evidence base that will catalyze broader change, in this case towards social and economic transformation on the African continent.

Much of this learning emerges in relationships. Thus, the Foundation purposefully creates opportunities for implementing partners (i.e., mainly universities and NGOs) to connect with and learn from each other. Examples of this include annual convenings of partners, the establishment of a learning partnership advisory group and of working groups, the resourcing of institutional partnerships, and the provision of funds for collaborative research.

In this paper, a Foundation representative will describe efforts to create spaces for authentic conversations and collaborations that enable learning partners to reflect collectively on experience, leverage their relative strengths and generate actionable knowledge. Also important is the generation of evidence on Scholars Program practices that can be scaled for institutional and system-level change.

Examples of positive outcomes emerging out of these connections will be shared as well as the challenges associated with a Foundation seeking to facilitate critical reflection and candid dialogue among its grantees.

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