Francis Mensah Arthur is an Access-to-Finance Expert on Agricultural Finance, Agribusiness Development, Financial Inclusion, and MSME Development and Finance. He is currently a Co-Leader for Access to Finance for the FIRST+II Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by Capital Plus Exchange. His expertise cuts across both the Supply and Demand Sides (Financial Institutions) (MSMEs).

In the last 7+ years, Francis has led/worked on about 50 consulting assignments in Investment Advisory and Funding Services Agribusiness Development, Financial Inclusion, SME Development, and Corporate Organizational Development for clients and partners such as IFC of the World Bank Group, GIZ, USAID, UNICEF, DSIK, Bank of Ghana, FSD Africa, Promasidor, etc. Key tasks have included funding transaction advisory, training design and facilitation (for financial institutions and MSMEs), assignment implementation and management, institutional assessment, business and strategic plan development, financial management strengthening, corporate governance strengthening, development of business tools and templates, coaching and hands-on support, entrepreneurship, and SME development, business research, development of concept papers, response to technical and financial proposals, etc.

Francis has secured over $4.2 million in funding, developed more than 15 strategic and business plans, and provided training assignments to over 5,000 beneficiaries, as well as hands-on support in business improvement for over 100 SMEs.

Before consulting, Francis held lead finance and accounting roles, including Accountant, Finance Manager, and Internal Auditor, for businesses in the Textiles, FMCG, WaSH, and Health sectors for over 7 years. He also served as a technical manager, consultant, and donor for projects for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. Additionally, he provided private tuition for candidates of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, in Advanced Financial Management, Cost and Management Accounting, Financial Management, and Public Sector Accounting.

Francis is a chartered accountant with an M.Sc. in International Business and a certified expert in agricultural finance.