Impact Delivery Operational Guide

The Mastercard Foundation is committed to deepening its understanding of Impact across all programs. The Impact Delivery team plays a central role in ensuring that evidence, insights, and learning are embedded throughout the program cycle — from early ideation through to reflection and adaptation.

This guide provides an overarching view of how the Foundation approaches impact-oriented program design, the role of evidence in designing for impact at scale, and the end-to-end MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) support provided by the Impact Delivery (ID) team.

A Partner-Led MEL Approach is central to the Foundation’s philosophy: an approach in which the implementing partner takes primary ownership and leadership of the design, implementation, analysis and use of MEL processes. This emphasises capacity strengthening, mutual accountability and adaptive learning, ensuring MEL systems are contextually relevant and embedded within partner organisations. The Foundation and the rest of the ecosystem play a supportive role, promoting sustainability, local ownership, and equitable partnership.