New Vacancies At Palladium (Aug. 2017)

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved – and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies and most importantly, people’s lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

Job Description

Job Title: Junior Finance Research Consultant, FINSSP II

Project Overview and Role

Background

Ghana’s vision for the financial sector as stated in the Financial Sector Strategic Plan (FINSSP II) adopted in April 2012 is a financial sector that is efficient in the mobilization and allocation of funds, fully integrated with the global financial system and supported by a regulatory system that promotes a high degree of confidence. In furtherance of this vision, FINSSP II established the following objectives:

Objective 1: To be the preferred source of finance for domestic companies

Objective 2: To promote efficient savings mobilization Strategic Initiatives
Objective 3: To enhance the competitiveness of Ghana?s financial institutions within a regional and global setting
Objective 4: To ensure a stronger and more facilitative regulatory regime
Objective 5: To achieve a diversified domestic financial sector within a competitive environment
Objective 6: To promote education, public awareness, capacity-building and financial literacy

To achieve these objectives, a number of strategic initiatives were adopted and translated into 88 actionable recommendations.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) would like to engage two Consultants to undertake an impact analysis of FINSSP II. The Consultants? findings will be used as input for the preparation of a successor strategic document to FINSSP II, i.e., FINSSP III.
Responsibilities

Description of Activities

The consultants are expected to perform the following activities:

1. Highlight the major components of the financial system at the beginning of the implementation of FINSSP II from 2012 and major changes that have taken place thereafter.

2. Analyze the inventory of reform measures recommended under FINSSP II to identify:
the recommendations made;
those recommendations implemented; and
those recommendations yet to be implemented and reasons for this lack of implementation.
3. Propose the possible next steps towards preparation of a successor strategy document for the sector in the light of the developments in

4. For each of the following sectors, identify appropriate measures of performance and evaluate performance of each of the following sectors relative to FINSSP II expectations:
Commercial Banks
Rural and Community Banks
Capital markets
Insurance
Pensions
Development Financing
Micro-finance
Leasing
Mortgage
5. Undertake a detailed analysis of reform measures with respect to the following keyindicators:
(i) IMPACT ON FINANCIAL STRUCTURE, DEEPENING AND INTERMEDIATION
Impact on financial structure
Financial depth
Financial intermediation
Financial savings
Impact on domestic debt management(ii) IMPACT ON FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY
Interest rate spread
Credit allocative efficiency(iii) FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN PEER COUNTRIES (particularly peer groups from emerging market countries or sovereign rated B+ countries together with sub-Saharan Africa)
Macroeconomic environment
Financial deepening and intermediation(iv) IMPACT ON DOMESTIC DEBT MANAGEMENT
Impact on cost and sustainability of debt
6. Suggest directions for further reforms on the basis of the gaps identified in the preceding analysis.

Duration of Study and Expected Outputs

The proposed duration of the study is a period of seven weeks. The following outputs are required from the Consultants.
Inception Report (end of Week 2).
Draft reports on each of the areas that correspond to the bullets listed above (End of Week 5).
Presentation of Draft Report at a Stakeholders Forum (end of Week 6).
Final Report reflecting feedback from stakeholders? forum (end of Week 7).
Data, Local Services, Personnel and Facilities to be provided by the Client The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will provide work space, data and other necessary materials for the assignment, including a liaison to work with at the MOF.
The Consultants will report to the MOF and will work under the direct supervision of the Director, Financial Sector Division and the Technical Advisor.
For contractual supervision, the Consultants will fall under the supervision of the Chief of Party, USAID FinGAP (implemented by The Palladium Group), or his designate.
Requirements

The Junior and Research Consultant will work under the supervision of the Senior/Lead Consultant and have the following qualifications:
Qualifications in Economics and Finance with at least five years of relevant professional experience; MBA or related graduate degree preferred
Experience in researching, and reviewing financial sector reform programmes; experience in emerging economies desired.
Experience in conducting program assessments/project evaluations in emerging countries, preferably in Ghana
Understanding of institutional and legal frameworks of Ghana?s financial sector and reforms.
Ghanaian resident.