As part of the Green and Digital Private Sector Development (GDI PSD) project, funded by the European Union Delegation in Ghana and jointly implemented by RVO (Netherlands), UNCDF and Expertise France, Expertise France is looking for an International Volunteer (VI) to support the implementation of its activities aimed at strengthening Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerating the green and digital transformation of private sector actors.

The GDI PSD project contributes to the development of a more inclusive, greener and digitalised Ghanaian economy by supporting entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs through three complementary pillars: access to innovative finance, improvement of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and regulatory environment, and strengthening of entrepreneurs’ capacities to adopt green and digital solutions.

Expertise France is primarily responsible for activities related to ecosystem strengthening, entrepreneurship support organisations (ESOs), regulatory frameworks, capacity building and digital transformation support. The project focuses in particular on strategic sectors including Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI), healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Based in Accra and under the supervision of the Team Leader, and in liaison with the operational departments at headquarters in Paris, the VI will support the operational implementation of two key components of the project:

• Business development and ecosystem engagement activities within the framework of an activity with the Creative Art Agency, and

• Digital Voucher Component supporting SME digital transformation.

The position will involve close collaboration with the Expertise France project team, Ghanaian public institutions (Creative Art Agency), private sector actors, entrepreneurship support organisations, digital solution providers and development partners.

More specifically, his/her missions and responsibilities are as follows (non-exhaustive list):

1. Business Development & Ecosystem Engagement Support (40%)

Under the supervision of the Team Leader, the VI will contribute to strengthening partnerships and supporting the development of Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a particular focus on Creative and Cultural Industries and innovative businesses.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Contribute to the identification, mapping and engagement of relevant ecosystem actors, including public institutions, private companies, industry associations, ESOs, incubators, accelerators and development partners;

• Support partnership development activities with ecosystem stakeholders and contribute to maintaining regular communication with partners;

• Support the identification of funding opportunities and contribute to resource mobilisation initiatives, including the preparation of partnership proposals and funding applications;

• Support the preparation of responses to calls for proposals, expressions of interest and partnership opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the CAA, the private sector and academia.

• Assist in the preparation of technical documents, concept notes, presentations, meeting briefs and reports related to the CAA’s activities;

• Support the coordination and monitoring of activities implemented with public institutions, including the CAA and other relevant stakeholders;

2. Digital Voucher Component Support (40%)

The VI will provide operational support for the implementation of the Digital Voucher Component, designed to strengthen the digital capabilities and competitiveness of Ghanaian SMEs, Small Growing Companies (SGCs) and start-ups.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Support the operational preparation and roll-out of the Digital Voucher activity, including implementation planning, coordination tools and monitoring systems;

• Contribute to the organisation and promotion of Calls for Expressions of Interest targeting eligible SMEs and start-ups in the three supported cities but not only;

• Support outreach activities to ensure inclusive participation, particularly among women-led and youth-led enterprises;

• Assist in the coordination of beneficiary selection processes, including application management, data consolidation and preparation of selection documentation;

• Support the organisation of digital maturity assessments and follow-up of beneficiary enterprises throughout the programme cycle;

• Contribute to the coordination of practical digital skills training activities and coaching sessions with private sector mentors;

• Support the identification and engagement of digital solution providers and ecosystem partners involved in voucher implementation;

• Contribute to monitoring voucher utilisation, collecting supporting documentation and maintaining beneficiary tracking tools;

• Support data collection, indicator monitoring and preparation of progress updates and reporting documents.

3. Operational management of activities (10%)

In close collaboration with the Deputy Project Manager and Team Leader:

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of project activities, ensuring timely follow-up of technical and operational actions in line with project objectives, quality standards, timelines, and budget requirements;

• Support the organization and facilitation of consultation and coordination meetings with the project team, implementing partners, and key stakeholders on technical and operational matters;

• Contribute to the preparation of terms of reference and the identification of technical expertise, including supporting the recruitment and mobilization of short- and long-term experts in accordance with project needs;

• Support the engagement and follow-up of project implementation partners (experts, public and private sector stakeholders, business support organizations, associations, etc.) across the three target cities, ensuring effective coordination and communication.

4. Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge Management (10%)

The VI will contribute to:

• Collecting and analysing project implementation data;

• Maintaining project monitoring tools and activity trackers;

• Preparing inputs for internal reporting and donor-related deliverables;

• Documenting good practices, success stories and lessons learned;

• Supporting the preparation of presentations and communication materials highlighting project achievements.