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Chair of the Board

  • Scope: Pan-African
Provide strategic leadership to the inaugural Board, helping shape the Foundation’s direction, governance, institutional credibility and long-term impact.

MTN Group Foundation

Introduction

Role Overview

Key Responsibilities

Required Skills and Experience

Personal Attributes

Geographic & Diversity

Independence & Due Diligence

Why Join

Apply Now

Introduction

Established by MTN Group, MTN Group Foundation is a newly created pan-African philanthropic institution with an ambition to advance digital and socio-economic inclusion across Africa. Drawing on MTN’s scale, reach and digital capabilities, the Foundation will initially focus on digital skills for digital jobs, access to affordable devices, and education and skills development, while mobilising partnerships, expertise and capital to extend its impact over time.

Working alongside MTN country foundations, operating companies, funders and implementation partners, the Foundation will combine Group-level capabilities and partnerships with local insight and delivery, creating the potential to develop and scale high-impact initiatives across multiple African markets.

The inaugural Board will play a defining role in shaping the institution from its earliest stage. Its members will help set strategic direction, establish strong governance, build institutional credibility and steward the partnerships and resources required for the Foundation to realise its ambition at scale. For those appointed, this is an opportunity not simply to join a Board but to help shape the foundations of an institution designed to have a lasting impact across the continent.

Role Overview

The Chair of the Board will provide strategic leadership and governance stewardship to the MTN Group Foundation as it moves from establishment into a critical phase of partnership development, resource mobilisation and scaled implementation.

The Foundation has been established to harness MTN’s reach, capabilities and partnerships to advance digital and socio-economic inclusion across Africa. Its principal strategic priorities are digital skills for digital jobs, access to affordable devices, and harnessing technology to unlock socio-economic development. It may also pursue high-impact opportunities in entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital health, and digital agriculture, where credible partners, funding, and implementation models exist.

The Chair will lead a deliberately compact and agile Board, expected to comprise approximately five to six directors, including four independent directors and one or more MTN Group-appointed representatives. The Chair will be responsible for ensuring that the Board operates as a cohesive, independent and high-performing governing body, with the collective capabilities required to guide the Foundation’s strategy, oversee its resources and risks, and build confidence among donors, development partners and other stakeholders.

This is a highly strategic and influential role. The Chair will help shape the Foundation’s institutional identity, governance culture, and long-term direction, while positioning it as a credible platform for MTN, philanthropic organisations, multilateral institutions, and other partners to collaborate to deliver significant impact across the continent.

The Chair will contribute stature, sound judgement and access to relevant networks, while maintaining a clear distinction between the Board’s governance and oversight responsibilities and the executive responsibilities of the Foundation’s management and MTN Group teams.

Key Responsibilities

Board leadership and governance

Provide effective leadership to the inaugural Board, establishing a culture of independence, integrity, constructive challenge and collective accountability. The Chair will ensure that the Board remains focused on strategy, governance, performance, risk and long-term institutional sustainability, while maintaining clear boundaries between oversight and executive management. Working closely with the CEO/MD, Group Company Secretary, and relevant MTN stakeholders, the Chair will support effective Board planning, decision-making, director contributions, performance evaluation, and succession.

Strategy and institutional development

Lead the Board in shaping and periodically reviewing the Foundation’s long-term strategic direction, ensuring that its ambitions remain closely aligned with its purpose and the needs of the communities it seeks to serve. The Chair will guide consideration of the Foundation’s priorities across digital inclusion, skills and employment, education, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital health, and agriculture, while helping to build the institutional capabilities, governance infrastructure, and partnership model required to deliver responsibly at scale. 

Partnerships, funding and external influence

Provide Board-level oversight of the Foundation’s funding strategy, partnership portfolio, and long-term financial sustainability, helping to position it credibly within the global philanthropic, development finance, and corporate social impact landscape. The Chair will bring stature and judgement to selected high-level engagements, help open relevant networks and relationships, and strengthen confidence among prospective partners and funders, while ensuring that responsibility for originating and managing funding relationships remains with management. The role will also serve as a leading ambassador for the Foundation, representing its purpose and ambitions at appropriate forums and with influential stakeholders. 

Stewarding the MTN Foundation ecosystem

Maintain a constructive relationship with MTN Group leadership while safeguarding the Foundation’s governance integrity and appropriate independence. The Chair will help ensure clarity around MTN Group’s role as founder, strategic partner and contributor, and support collaboration with relevant MTN capabilities where these can advance the Foundation’s objectives. The role will also provide oversight of the relationship with MTN country foundations, maintaining appropriate engagement with their Chairs and promoting alignment, information sharing and coordinated delivery while respecting the continuing authority and accountability of individual country Foundation Boards. 

Risk, accountability and Board effectiveness

Ensure that the Board maintains effective oversight of the Foundation’s principal strategic, financial, operational, regulatory, partnership and reputational risks, working closely with the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee while recognising the full Board’s collective accountability. The Chair will promote strong ethical standards, rigorous due diligence, appropriate controls and transparent decision-making. The role will also lead the continuing development of a Board whose composition reflects the independence, diversity, experience and capabilities required by the Foundation as its strategy, partnerships and institutional maturity evolve.

Required Skills and Experience

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate most of the following:

  • Significant experience as a Board Chair, Committee Chair or highly experienced Non-Executive Director within a complex, reputable and multi-stakeholder organisation.
  • A strong record of leading Boards or senior governance forums through periods of institutional development, strategic change, growth or increased public scrutiny.
  • Exceptional professional stature and credibility, with the ability to command the confidence of fellow directors, MTN Group leadership, major donors, development partners and other influential stakeholders.
  • A strong understanding of the distinction between governance and management, with the discipline to provide strategic oversight and constructive challenge without becoming operationally involved.
  • Demonstrated experience operating across Africa and internationally, with a sophisticated understanding of the continent’s institutional, economic and development context.
  • Experience within or substantial exposure to philanthropy, foundations, development finance, multilateral institutions, donor-funded organisations or large-scale development programmes.
  • Alternatively, an exceptional record of leadership in business, investment, technology, public-purpose institutions or another relevant field, combined with sufficient understanding of foundation governance and partnership-led development.
  • Strong relationships within relevant global and African networks, including philanthropic institutions, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations, technology companies, business leaders, governments, and other strategic partners.
  • The ability to open doors, facilitate senior-level introductions and enhance the credibility of the Foundation without compromising independence or assuming executive fundraising responsibilities.
  • Experience overseeing complex partnerships involving multiple institutions, funders, markets or implementation partners.
  • A strong understanding of digital transformation and the role of technology, connectivity, devices and digital skills in enabling inclusive development.
  • Experience in digital inclusion, education, skills development, youth employment, entrepreneurship or technology-enabled socio-economic development would be advantageous.
  • High financial literacy and the ability to engage confidently with financial statements, budgets, funding strategies, audit findings, risk reports, performance dashboards and impact data.
  • A strong appreciation of legal, regulatory, ethical, reputational and political risks associated with a prominent pan-African institution.
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusive development, responsible leadership and the creation of opportunities for underserved communities.
  • Excellent communication, facilitation, diplomatic and stakeholder-management capabilities.

Personal Attributes

The Chair should demonstrate:

  • Impeccable integrity, independence and ethical judgement.
  • Strategic foresight and the ability to distinguish long-term priorities from short-term pressures.
  • Intellectual curiosity and openness to evidence, innovation and diverse perspectives.
  • The confidence to challenge constructively and the judgement to build consensus where possible.
  • Gravitas without dominance and the ability to lead a Board comprising senior and accomplished individuals.
  • Cultural intelligence and the ability to operate effectively across countries, institutions and professional disciplines.
  • Strong listening, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
  • Political astuteness without political partisanship.
  • A commitment to the Foundation’s purpose and sufficient availability to discharge the responsibilities of the role effectively.

Geographical and Diversity Considerations

The appointment should strengthen the overall diversity of the Board across gender, geography, professional background and lived experience. Candidates should also bring significant regional and global exposure, together with a demonstrable understanding of Africa’s development and business environment. Additional attributes that would be valuable include:

  • Based in Africa or internationally, with the credibility, contextual understanding and networks required to contribute effectively to a pan-African institution.
  • Strong connections to major MTN markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda, would be valuable but will not be treated as rigid country requirements.
  • African leaders with significant global stature, influence and international networks are particularly relevant to the mandate.

Independence, Conflicts and Due Diligence

The successful candidate must:

  • Meet the Foundation’s and MTN Group’s requirements concerning director independence.
  • Be free from actual, potential or perceived conflicts that could materially affect the discharge of their responsibilities.
  • Not hold a role with a direct telecommunications competitor where this could create independence, confidentiality or conflict concerns.
  • Disclose relevant commercial, professional, political and personal interests.
  • Complete all required background checks, conflict-of-interest assessments, politically exposed person screening and reputational due diligence.
  • Demonstrate an exemplary professional and ethical reputation.
  • Understand that their fiduciary responsibilities are owed to the Foundation and that they are appointed to act in its best interests rather than to represent a particular institution, constituency or personal interest.

Why Join

This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new pan-African institution from the very beginning. Established by MTN Group, MTN Group Foundation brings together the reach, capabilities and convening power of one of Africa’s leading businesses with an ambition to advance digital and socio-economic inclusion at a meaningful scale. As a member of its inaugural Board, you will help define not only the Foundation’s strategic direction but also the institution it becomes.

You will contribute to building the governance, partnerships and institutional credibility required to mobilise significant resources and translate ambition into sustained impact across multiple African markets. Working alongside fellow Board members, MTN leadership, country foundations and external partners, you will help steward an organisation positioned to connect technology, capital and local insight around some of the continent’s most consequential development opportunities.

For leaders who bring judgment, perspective and the ability to operate at the intersection of business, philanthropy and development, this is an opportunity to leave a distinctive institutional legacy, helping establish a Foundation with the potential to expand opportunity, influence how digital inclusion is advanced across Africa, and create lasting impact for millions of people.

Apply Now

Related Roles

Chair, Audit and Risk Committee

Lead the Board’s oversight of financial integrity, audit, risk, internal controls and compliance, while contributing fully as an independent Non-Executive Director.

Non-Executive Directors

Bring independent judgement, strategic insight and complementary experience to a Board responsible for guiding an ambitious pan-African platform for digital and socio-economic inclusion.
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