Oxford Policy Management is seeking suitably qualified Ghanaian national experts on a fixed-term basis, contingent on the successful outcome of a bid for an upcoming Climate Finance project.

These positions would be based in Ghana.

We are an international development consultancy working to improve lives through sustainable policy change in low- and middle-income countries. Our vision is for fair public policy that benefits both people and the planet.

Through our global network of offices, we work in partnership with national stakeholders and decision makers to research, design, implement, and evaluate impactful public policy. We draw on our local and international sector experts to provide the very best evidence-based support. We deliver projects with expert knowledge and experience and can be relied upon for excellence in all aspects of project delivery. We work collaboratively, with ambition, to help deliver impactful public policy that will bring about lasting change.

The Experts will provide technical and advisory support for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of financial instruments and capacity-strengthening activities aimed at improving access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

1. Financial Institution and MSME Advisory

• Provide technical expertise on the Ghanaian financial sector and its capacity to support MSMEs.
• Assess the needs, capabilities and constraints of banks, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions and other relevant financial sector actors in relation to MSME lending and financing.
• Advise on approaches to improving access to finance for MSMEs, including those operating in underserved and climate-relevant sectors.
• Support engagement and coordination with relevant financial institutions and other stakeholders in Ghana.

2. Climate-Aligned Guarantee Product Development

• Provide local market expertise to support the design and development of climate-aligned credit guarantee products and related risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Assess market demand, financial institution requirements and potential MSME beneficiary segments.
• Advise on the alignment of guarantee products with Ghana's financial sector regulations, climate priorities and market conditions.
• Support the development of product structures, eligibility criteria, operational procedures and monitoring frameworks.
• Engage relevant stakeholders to facilitate the adoption and implementation of climate-aligned financial products.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation of Credit and Guarantee Portfolios

• Support the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for credit and guarantee portfolios.
• Monitor portfolio performance, outreach, additionality, development impact and other relevant indicators.
• Conduct assessments and analyses of MSME-focused portfolios supported by IFIs, MDBs and other development finance partners.
• Identify portfolio risks, implementation challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to periodic monitoring reports, portfolio reviews, evaluations and recommendations for corrective action.

4. Ghanaian Financial Sector and Regulatory Expertise

• Provide up-to-date local expertise on Ghana's financial sector, regulatory environment and institutional landscape.
• Advise on relevant national regulations, policies, guidelines and market practices affecting financial institutions, MSME finance, guarantees and development finance.
• Map and engage relevant public- and private-sector stakeholders, including regulators, financial institutions, government agencies, business associations and development partners.
• Support effective coordination and stakeholder engagement throughout the implementation of the assignment.

5. Environmental and Social Safeguards

• Provide local expertise on Ghanaian environmental and social legislation, regulations, standards and safeguards relevant to financial sector and MSME financing activities.
• Support the integration of appropriate environmental and social risk considerations into financial products, guarantee mechanisms and portfolio monitoring systems.
• Advise participating financial institutions on the practical application of environmental and social safeguards and risk management procedures.
• Support alignment, where applicable, with the environmental and social requirements of IFIs and MDBs..

6. Development Finance and Capital Markets Advisory

• Provide advisory services to Ghanaian stakeholders on opportunities to access development finance.
• Identify potential financing sources and instruments available through development finance institutions, IFIs, MDBs, climate finance mechanisms and other relevant sources.
• Advise stakeholders on approaches to mobilising capital and improving access to local and international financing.
• Provide guidance on opportunities and requirements relating to Ghanaian and regional capital markets.
• Support the preparation of recommendations, financing strategies and stakeholder engagement approaches.

• Advanced university degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Business Administration, Development Finance, Public Policy or another relevant field.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the financial sector, development finance, banking, MSME finance, credit, guarantees or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience of working with financial institutions in Ghana, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions or other relevant financial sector entities.
• Proven experience in supporting MSME access to finance and/or MSME lending programmes in Ghana.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, management or evaluation of credit guarantee schemes, risk-sharing facilities or similar financial instruments.
• Experience in climate finance or climate-aligned financial product development is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in the monitoring and evaluation of credit and/or guarantee portfolios, preferably under projects financed or supported by IFIs, MDBs or other development finance partners.
• Demonstrated experience of conducting training needs assessments and designing and delivering capacity-strengthening programmes for financial institutions.
• Strong knowledge of the Ghanaian financial sector, including relevant regulations, institutions, market dynamics and stakeholder landscape.
• Good knowledge of Ghanaian environmental and social legislation and safeguards applicable to investment, lending and financial sector activities.
• Experience in advising on access to development finance, blended finance, guarantee instruments and/or capital markets is an advantage.
• Familiarity with the requirements, standards and operating practices of IFIs and MDBs is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, report-writing, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of relevant Ghanaian languages is an advantage.

Whether you join us in a corporate position, as a project delivery colleague, or as an independent contractor driving programme management - at OPM you will find a company that places equal value on excellence and integrity. As a leading international development consulting firm, we strive to enable and empower everyone who works with us to do their best work in an environment that welcomes ambition, creativity and passion for positive change.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We strongly believe in a fairer distribution of power between all stakeholders, and we commit to reflecting this in our organisational structures and in the design and delivery of our projects. We proactively work to evolve ourselves and our stakeholders to shape inclusive and fair programming, implementation, and policies. Our recruitment and procurement processes reflect our ambition to make the international development sector more diverse and inclusive.

If you share our vision for fair public policy that benefits both people and planet, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application through our careers’ site by the closing date.  We review and interview applicants on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply by way of CV via our careers site at the earliest.