For Executives For Executives

Non-Executive Directors

  • Scope: Pan-African
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.

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 MTN Group Foundation is seeking to appoint two independent Non-Executive Directors who will contribute strategic insight, independent judgement and complementary expertise to its inaugural Board.

The Foundation has been established to harness MTN’s scale, technology, market presence and partnerships to advance digital and socio-economic inclusion across Africa. Its primary areas of focus include digital skills for digital jobs and access to affordable devices, complemented by opportunities in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital health and digital agriculture.

The two Non-Executive Directors will join the Board Chair, the Chair of the Audit Committee and MTN-appointed representatives on a deliberately compact Board expected to comprise approximately five to six members. They will help establish a strong governance culture, guide the Foundation’s strategic direction and provide independent oversight as it builds significant partnerships and scales its impact across multiple markets.

The two positions are not intended to represent narrowly defined specialist seats. Each candidate will first be assessed against the individual requirements of the Non-Executive Director role. Complementarity will then be considered separately when determining which combination of candidates best strengthens the capabilities of the Board Chair, the Audit Committee Chair, and the MTN-appointed directors.

Candidates may therefore bring different combinations of expertise across technology, digital inclusion, education and skills development, youth opportunity, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, development finance, strategic partnerships, business leadership and pan-African market experience.

Each director will be expected to contribute broadly to the work of the Board while bringing particular depth in one or more areas relevant to the Foundation’s strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and institutional stewardship

Contribute actively to the development, approval and periodic review of the Foundation’s long-term strategy, bringing independent judgement and constructive challenge to Board deliberations. Directors will help ensure that priorities, programmes and partnerships remain aligned with the Foundation’s purpose, impact ambitions and institutional capabilities, while considering sustainability, scalability, feasibility and risk. They will also support the development of clear performance measures and use evidence and evaluation to assess progress and guide responsible growth. 

Digital inclusion, skills and economic opportunity

Bring strategic perspective to the Foundation’s work across digital inclusion, technology, education, skills development, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic participation. This includes helping the Board assess how technology can expand opportunity, how skills can translate into employment and sustainable livelihoods, and how entrepreneurship and digital platforms can support enterprise growth. Particular attention should be given to accessibility, labour-market relevance, responsible innovation and the needs of young people, women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.

Partnerships, philanthropy and business leadership

Support the Foundation in building a credible and diversified partnership base across philanthropy, development finance, business and other strategic institutions. Directors will help assess prospective funding and implementation partnerships for strategic fit, credibility, risk and impact, while using relevant networks to facilitate introductions where appropriate. They will also bring a commercial perspective to discussions on partnership structuring, programme sustainability, and opportunities to leverage MTN’s infrastructure, technology, platforms, and market footprint in ways that are transparent, appropriately governed, and aligned with the Foundation’s purpose.

Impact, scale and multi-country delivery

Provide oversight of major programmes and partnerships, helping ensure that initiatives are grounded in evidence, informed by local context and capable of delivering sustainable impact at a meaningful scale. Directors will support effective collaboration among the MTN Group Foundation, country foundations, and MTN operating companies, while respecting the ongoing mandates and accountability of country-level governance structures. They will also help promote clear accountability, reporting and coordination across multi-country partnerships and identify potential duplication or misalignment across Group and country activity. 

Governance, risk and ethical oversight

Uphold the highest standards of governance, integrity, independence and accountability, and contribute to the Board’s oversight of the Foundation’s principal strategic, financial, operational, legal, regulatory, partnership and reputational risks. Directors will support robust decision-making on donor funding, partnerships, procurement, grant management, technology, data, and cross-border activities, while ensuring that conflicts of interest, compliance obligations, and ethical risks are appropriately identified and managed. 

Board contribution and independent judgement

Prepare thoroughly for and contribute actively to Board and committee deliberations, supporting a culture of mutual respect, constructive challenge and collective accountability. Directors will serve on committees as required, participate in Board development and succession processes, maintain sufficient availability for the responsibilities of the appointment, and exercise independent judgement in the best interests of the Foundation rather than representing any particular organisation, geography, funder or constituency.

 

Collective Capability Expectations Across the Two Appointments

The two successful candidates will not each be expected to demonstrate every capability listed below. Each candidate will first be assessed against the individual requirements of the role. The final candidate combination will then be considered collectively to ensure that the two directors strengthen the Board in several of the following areas:

  • Digital innovation, technology and digital inclusion.
  • Digital skills for employment and economic participation.
  • Education, youth development and skills ecosystems.
  • Entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
  • Global philanthropy, development finance and donor partnerships.
  • Strategic partnerships and high-level stakeholder engagement.
  • Pan-African business leadership and market understanding.
  • Financial inclusion and inclusive economic development.
  • Experience working with large or globally recognised technology companies.
  • Experience designing, funding, scaling or overseeing multi-country initiatives.
  • Understanding of the institutional and development context of Africa.
  • Global networks and the ability to connect the Foundation with influential partners.

Candidates who combine several of these areas will be particularly relevant.

Required Skills and Experience

Each candidate should demonstrate most of the following:

  • Significant senior executive, institutional or professional leadership experience within a reputable organisation.
  • Demonstrated experience leading or overseeing significant growth, transformation or complex initiatives, with evidence of sound execution, institutional resilience and sustained performance.
  • Experience contributing to strategy, governance and organisational oversight at Board, committee, advisory council or executive leadership level.
  • The ability to analyse complex information, exercise independent judgement and contribute constructively to high-level decision-making.
  • Demonstrable expertise in at least one of the Foundation’s priority capability areas.
  • Experience operating across multiple countries, institutions or stakeholder groups.
  • A strong understanding of Africa’s economic, social, technological or development context.
  • Experience engaging with senior leaders across business, philanthropy, development, technology, education, government or civil society.
  • The ability to bring relevant networks and institutional credibility without becoming involved in operational management.
  • A strong appreciation of governance, fiduciary responsibility, risk management and ethical leadership.
  • Sufficient financial literacy to engage with budgets, performance information, funding structures, risk reports and impact data.
  • Experience overseeing or contributing to complex partnerships involving multiple institutions or jurisdictions.
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusive development and the creation of opportunities for underserved communities.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.

Prior experience as a Non-Executive Director is desirable but not essential for an exceptional candidate with substantial executive and governance exposure.

Personal Attributes

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

  • Impeccable integrity and sound ethical judgement.
  • Independence of thought and the confidence to challenge constructively.
  • Strategic perspective and intellectual curiosity.
  • Cultural intelligence and respect for diverse perspectives.
  • Collaborative behaviour and a commitment to collective Board accountability.
  • Strong listening and communication skills.
  • Pragmatism and an appreciation of the challenges of delivering impact at scale.
  • The ability to balance ambition, innovation, risk and institutional sustainability.
  • A clear commitment to the Foundation’s purpose.

Geographical and Diversity Considerations

The appointments 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. Across the appointments, MTN will seek an appropriate balance of global stature, international networks, and deep understanding of the African market. 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.
  • Experience in other MTN or emerging markets would also be valuable, where candidates bring particularly strong capabilities that complement the experience and expertise of the wider Board.

Independence, Conflicts and Due Diligence

Successful candidates must:

  • Meet the Foundation’s and MTN Group’s director independence requirements.
  • Be free from actual, potential or perceived conflicts that could materially affect their judgment.
  • Disclose all relevant commercial, professional, political and personal interests.
  • Complete required background checks, conflict-of-interest assessments, politically exposed person screening and reputational due diligence.
  • Demonstrate that they understand they are appointed to serve the interests of the Foundation and not their personal interests or those of another institution.
  • Maintain confidentiality concerning the Foundation, MTN Group, its partners and its activities.
  • Not hold a current role with a direct telecommunications competitor where that role would create material independence, confidentiality or conflict concerns.
  • Possess an exemplary professional and ethical reputation.

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 of the Board

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

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.
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