Francis Arthur (Pln.) is a development practitioner and researcher with over 15 years of experience in inclusive finance, rural livelihoods, and development policy and practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Development Studies at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, where his research focuses on financial inclusion, digital financial systems, and their implications for sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable populations, particularly women, youth, and rural communities.
He holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies (Microfinance and Development) from the University of Ghana, an Advanced Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from GIMPA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of Cape Coast. His professional and research experience spans Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso, with additional engagement in global programmes across Asia and other regions.
Francis has contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of multi-country development programmes focused on village savings and loans associations (VSLAs), digital financial services, gender-transformative programming, and youth employment systems. His work integrates mixed-methods research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), and human-centered design approaches to generate evidence for policy and programme improvement.
He has co-authored several applied research and evaluation publications on financial inclusion, agricultural development, and digital service delivery systems. His research interests include inclusive financial ecosystems, social protection, digital innovation for development, and equity-centered development policy. He is a member of the Ghana Institute of Planners, the Commonwealth Association of Planners, and the Social Workers Association of Ghana.
