Green Economy Modelling Consultant

Client of United Nation careers

Under the direct supervision of the Waste Management Expert of the Saudi project at the UNEP West Asia Office, the guidance of the Senior Economic Affairs officer of the Economic and Trade Policy Unit of the Industry and Economy Division, and in coordination with the respective departments at MEWA, the Consultant will provide technical assistance in analysing the macroeconomic impact and conducting cost benefit analysis of environmental investments made by the government of Saudi Arabia since the adoption of the National Environment Strategy by applying UNEP s integrated on Green Economy Modelling Framework. The Consultant will, therefore, carry out, inter alia, the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Development of a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD)

• Design a CLD to map the interconnections and feedback loops among key indicators across environmental, economic, and social systems.
• Use a systems-thinking approach to identify causality, critical drivers of change, and potential transformational outcomes.
• Prepare a stakeholder workshop to validate the CLD and ensure shared understanding of system dynamics.

2. Data Collection and Model Development

• Collect and organize relevant datasets, including:
• Sector-specific data (e.g., energy, agriculture, manufacturing, services).
• Environmental data (e.g., land use, GHG emissions, biodiversity).
• Macroeconomic data (e.g., GDP, employment, household income).
• Develop the GEM using Vensim software, structured around system dynamics principles.
• Document the model s structure, assumptions, and data sources in a comprehensive model description report.

3. Scenario Development

• BAU and Environmental Action Scenarios
• Develop a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario to represent a future without additional sustainability interventions.
• Develop Environmental Action scenarios based on selected nature-focused investments, identified in consultation with UNEP and national stakeholders.
• Integrate projections for energy demand/supply, land use, GHG emissions, and climate conditions etc.

4. Extended Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)

• Conduct a national-level CBA comparing BAU and Environmental Action scenarios.
• Estimate direct investment returns, avoided costs (e.g., health expenditures, climate risks), and added societal benefits (e.g., employment, income generation).
• Ensure granularity of analysis based on data availability and relevance.

5. Final Report and Dissemination

• Prepare a final report summarizing model results, scenario simulations, and key findings.
• Develop policy guidelines based on insights from the GEM and CBA.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement to review findings and incorporate feedback.
• Ensure the report is accessible, policy-relevant, and aligned with national priorities.