Malian children miss out on school because their parents can't afford the fees, uniforms, books and pens so the government launched a sponsorship scheme this month, recruiting businessmen and even footballers to help impoverished children get an education. Officials say the cost of putting a child through school is about 25,000 CFA (US$ 46) a year - which makes life difficult for parents in a country where around 70 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day and women have an average of around seven children each, according to the World Bank.

The Program Officer will be responsible for the conceptualization and management of the Foundation's program activities in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. S/he will be expected to support efforts to address higher education's role in a rapidly changing environment. Programming will focus on helping higher education institutions broaden their missions, in particular in building the capacity of higher education institutions to be relevant and responsive to the social and economic needs in Southern Africa.