Johannesburg, South Africa — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and The MasterCard Foundation today launched a partnership to increase access to financial services for an estimated 5.3 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Toronto (Canada) & Guacimo (Costa Rica) — The MasterCard Foundation and EARTH University announced today a seven-year, USD 19.5 million partnership to provide educational opportunities to young people from disadvantaged communities in Africa, Latin America and The Caribbean.

Amsterdam – The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and The MasterCard Foundation today released a new policy paper titled, Policy Opportunities and Constraints to Access Youth Financial Services.

Washington, D.C. – TechnoServe and The MasterCard Foundation are partnering on an $11.5 million, four-year program to help rural young women and men in East Africa transition to economic independence.

Nairobi, Kenya – The MasterCard Foundation and the Equity Group Foundation today awarded 2,144 new students secondary school scholarships through the Wings to Fly program.

Geneva and Toronto – The International Labour Office (ILO) and The MasterCard Foundation have forged a unique partnership to promote decent work among young people facing a worsening jobs crisis marked by high unemployment, working poverty and youth discouragement.

Casablanca and Toronto – Education for Employment (EFE) and The MasterCard Foundation today launched a partnership to increase the employability skills of 15,500 unemployed and disadvantaged youth in Morocco.

Boston and Toronto – The MasterCard Foundation and the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are pleased to announce a strategic 10-year, $21 million grant to support emerging entrepreneurs focused on Africa and developing regions.

San Francisco – Opportunity International’s Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) today presented The MasterCard Foundation with the 2011 International Women’s Leadership Award at its annual conference, “Innovating to End Poverty,” being held Oct. 14-15, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport.

Washington, D.C. – MIX (Microfinance Information Exchange), today launched the Africa Map of Financial Inclusion for the Poor (africa.mixmarket.org) to help practitioners and policymakers better understand access to finance in Africa.

New York, Toronto, Addis Ababa – UNCDF in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation today launched the expansion of the successful MicroLead programme at the 5th Annual African Microfinance Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Toronto, Ontario – The MasterCard Foundation announced today the appointment of Donald H. Morrison, Former Chief Operating Officer of Research in Motion (RIM), to its Board of Directors.

New York, NY – $5.6 million partnership will train and link rural, disadvantaged youth to finance and economic opportunities.

Toronto, ON – Toronto International Microfinance Summit announced today The MasterCard Foundation is providing 100 college and university students with financial assistance to attend its conference at Toronto’s Allstream Centre September 17, 2011.

Johannesburg, South Africa – African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation are proud to announce the finalists for the inaugural Anzisha Prize, the premier award for Africa’s young entrepreneurial leaders.

New York, N.Y. – The MasterCard Foundation and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) today announced the ten institutions that have been selected and awarded a total of $6.9 million to develop new financial services products and delivery channels for youth.

Toronto, Ontario – The MasterCard Foundation announced today the appointment of Mr. James (Jim) Leech, President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Teachers’), to its Board of Directors.

Nairobi, Kenya – The MasterCard Foundation and Equity Group Foundation today joined with Honorable Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, for the official launch of a national program to promote financial inclusion and entrepreneurship in Kenya.

Accra, Ghana – Camfed and The MasterCard Foundation today launched a program in Ghana that will provide secondary education, financial literacy and entrepreneurship opportunities to 200,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Oxford, United Kingdom – BRAC and The MasterCard Foundation today announced the expansion of a $45 million partnership to scale BRAC’s innovative microfinance multiplied model in Uganda.

Johannesburg, South Africa – African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation are proud to announce the launch of the Anzisha Prize (www.anzishaprize.org), the premier award for Africa’s young entrepreneurial leaders.

Nairobi, Kenya – The MasterCard Foundation and Equity Group Foundation today announced a $50 million partnership that will provide secondary education scholarships and leadership development to 5,600 students in Kenya.