Climate Finance Expert

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Ghana.

📋 Description

• Offer technical and advisory assistance for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of financial instruments and capacity-building activities aimed at enhancing access to finance for MSMEs.

• Provide specialized knowledge on the Ghanaian financial sector and its capability to support MSMEs.

• Evaluate the needs, capabilities, and limitations of banks, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, and other significant financial sector participants.

• Recommend strategies to enhance access to finance for MSMEs, focusing on those in underserved and climate-sensitive sectors.

• Facilitate engagement and coordination with financial institutions and stakeholders within Ghana.

• Assist in the design and development of climate-aligned credit guarantee products and risk-sharing mechanisms.

• Assess market demand, financial institution requirements, and potential beneficiary segments among MSMEs.

• Advise on the alignment of guarantee products with Ghanaian regulations, climate priorities, and market conditions.

• Support the development of product structures, eligibility criteria, operational procedures, and monitoring frameworks.

• Design, structure, implement, and manage credit guarantee schemes and risk-sharing facilities for bank loan portfolios.

• Monitor, evaluate, and manage risks associated with wholesale credit lines and guarantee portfolios.

• Provide expertise on Ghana's financial sector, regulatory environment, and institutional framework.

• Map and engage public and private sector stakeholders, including regulators, financial institutions, government agencies, business associations, and development partners.

• Offer expertise on Ghanaian environmental and social legislation, regulations, standards, and safeguards.

• Incorporate environmental and social risk considerations into financial products, guarantee mechanisms, and portfolio monitoring systems.

• Advise financial institutions on environmental and social safeguards and risk management protocols.

• Guide Ghanaian stakeholders on development finance, blended finance, guarantee instruments, and capital markets.

• Identify financing sources and instruments via DFIs, IFIs, MDBs, climate finance mechanisms, and other avenues.

• Provide advice on mobilizing capital and enhancing access to both local and international financing.

• Assist in preparing recommendations, financing strategies, and stakeholder engagement approaches.

⛳️ Requirements

• Must be a Ghanaian national.

• Advanced university degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Business Administration, Development Finance, Public Policy, or a related field.

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in the financial sector, development finance, banking, MSME finance, credit, guarantees, or related areas.

• Proven experience collaborating with financial institutions in Ghana, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, or other pertinent financial sector entities.

• Demonstrated success in supporting MSME access to finance and/or MSME lending programs in Ghana.

• Proven experience in designing, implementing, managing, or evaluating credit guarantee schemes, risk-sharing facilities, or similar financial instruments.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluating credit and/or guarantee portfolios, preferably within projects funded or supported by IFIs, MDBs, or other development finance partners.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct training needs assessments and develop and deliver capacity-building programs for financial institutions.

• Strong understanding 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.

• Excellent analytical, report-writing, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills.

• Proficiency in English is essential.

• Experience in climate finance or the development of climate-aligned financial products is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with 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.

• Knowledge of relevant Ghanaian languages is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Employment on a fixed-term basis, contingent on the successful outcome of a bid for an upcoming Climate Finance project.

• Opportunity to collaborate with an international development consultancy.

• A supportive and cooperative work environment.

• An atmosphere that encourages ambition, creativity, and a passion for positive change.

• A commitment to diversity and inclusion.