Dr Peter Materu is currently the Chief Program Officer of the Mastercard Foundation. In this role, he has responsibility over all the Foundation’s programs globally. Among others, he championed the rollout of the Foundation’s new operating model since 2019, which saw the Foundation set up its footprint in Africa for the first time. The goal is to enable 30 million young people, especially women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Peter currently leads a team of over 200 staff in eight locations.

Peter joined the Mastercard Foundation over seven years ago from the World Bank where he served for 17 years, including as Practice Manager for Education and Skills Development in Africa. During his time at the World Bank, he made a significant contribution to the Bank’s higher education agenda, notably the Africa Centers of Excellence and the Partnership for Applied Science, Engineering and Technology initiatives which seek to strengthen higher education institutions as hubs for socio-economic transformation in Africa.

Prior to joining the World Bank, he served as Professor and Dean of Engineering, and as Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Peter holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and master’s degrees in engineering and education.