Description

***Position is subject to Funding approval***

Project: International Consultancy for the Development of Off Grid Renewable Energy Projects

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa (with significant time in Nigeria)

Availability for assignment: May 2026 – December 2027

Risk Level:☐ Level 3☐Level 2 ☐Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.  

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions

into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

The Program / Department / Team

Energy 4 Impact is Mercy Corps’ platform for shaping market systems in clean energy access. We work at the intersection of policy and institutions, enterprise growth and finance, ecosystem coordination, and evidence and market intelligence. Our comparative advantage lies in blending the advisory capabilities of a specialist firm with the geographic presence and community reach of an NGO. We translate program investment into strategic, market-credible solutions: building the conditions under which private investment flows into previously high-risk energy access markets. 

The PositionOverview

Energy 4 Impact is recruiting two Energy Transaction and Finance Experts to provide high quality financial, transactional, and regulatory advisory in support of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP III). Under this assignment, the experts will prepare systems for the development, financing, and scaling of off‑grid renewable energy projects—including mini‑grids, productive use of energy (PUE), electric mobility, and solar for health systems in Nigeria.

The role requires deep expertise in renewable energy transactions, tariff and pricing methodologies, financial modelling, and power sector incentive mechanisms, as well as strong familiarity with Nigeria’s regulatory and financing landscape.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide transactional advisory on renewable energy (RE) projects, including structuring, risk assessment, and financial closure support.

  • Support the preparation of financial documents required for accessing debt or third-party financing for mini-grid and PUE projects.

  • Develop business plans, financial models, and investment cases for off grid RE projects.

  • Design tariff tools, pricing methodologies, and cost reflective tariff structures for standalone and interconnected mini grids.

  • Prepare and evaluate financial components of tenders, including grant mechanisms, RBF schemes, and procurement packages for mini-grids and PUE projects.

  • Advise on the design of financial incentives, subsidies, and market mechanisms to stimulate private sector investment in off grid renewable energy.

  • Facilitate trainings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements on financial modelling, tariff setting, and investment readiness, with a focus on mini-grids (standalone and interconnected) and PUE.

  • Support cross team collaboration and contribute to meeting summaries and reporting.

Complementary Responsibilities

  • Conduct market assessments to identify high potential mini grid and PUE investment opportunities.

  • Map financing institutions (DFIs, commercial banks, impact investors) and develop engagement strategies.

  • Integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into financial models and investment frameworks.

  • Identify and facilitate linkages to opportunities that leverage climate finance instruments (e.g., results-based climate finance, carbon credits, P-RECs, etc)

  • Integrate mitigation strategies (e.g., insurance instruments, blended finance structures) to de-risk off-grid RE investments.

  • Support developers in improving bankability through improved documentation, governance, and compliance.

Safeguarding Responsibilities  

  • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

  • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

Required Qualifications

Education

  • Master’s degree in energy economics, finance, accounting, business, or related field.

Language

•English proficiency at C1 level (CEFR)

Professional Experience

  • General: At least 8 years of professional experience in RE projects, at least 3 of which in power sector regulation.

  • Specific: Minimum 7 years of experience in RE project transactions and finance.

  • At least 2 years in four of the following: Tariff tool development; Financial modelling; Pricing mechanisms; Tariff methodologies; Subsidy allocation; Commercial negotiations; RE incentive mechanisms.

  • International experience: At least 3 years of international experience in two countries outside West Africa.

  • Regional experience: 6 years of experience in West Africa, including 5 years in Nigeria.

  • At least 5 years of experience working on donor-funded projects.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders.

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Success Factors

The ideal candidates are seasoned renewable energy finance professionals with extensive experience in mini-grid transactions, tariff design, financial modelling, and off-grid energy financial incentives across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. They combine strong analytical capabilities with practical experience structuring deals, negotiating with financiers, and designing incentive mechanisms that unlock private‑sector investment.

They can work effectively with government agencies, regulators, developers, and DFIs to translate financial concepts into actionable interventions to advance the off-grid energy sector. They bring a strong understanding of Nigeria’s regulatory and financing landscape, complemented by international exposure that allows them to introduce global or regional best practices.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Africa and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.