NE4CB Consultant

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Recruitment of a short-term Consultant to carry out Model Scoping and Develop an Economy-Wide Modelling Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENTWRI intends to a fixed-price contract for economy-wide modeling for DRC as the country is ready for a development transition that harnesses the full potential of its natural resources and delivers for its 100 million people while preserving some of its 150 million hectares of evergreen forests. Over the past 20 years, the country has remained a champion in key nature and climate processes, culminating in 2024 by the appointment of a Minister-Delegate in charge of New Climate Economy (NCE). The government’s ambition is to attract unprecedented fluxes of carbon finance to be reinvested in key development sectors such as infrastructure, education, and energy. Through a 6-month exploratory process for how to boost this government agenda, World Resources Institute (WRI) and partners identified five key priorities: i) set-up a solid partnership to drive the DRC’s NCE (also labelled as an Institute) aiming to formulating a question to which New Economy for the Congo Basin (NE4CB) wants to answer, ii) The reformulation of the initial question through the construction of an analytical framework capable of addressing it; this implies that the consultant will develop an economy wide modeling framework or design of a blue-print or modelling for the NC4CB iii) calibrate model by confrontation with reality, in order to deduce both explanatory and predictive theories through fast-track research analysis on key subjects (carbon markets, the economic value of forests, sustainable energy for all, key sector development plans) iv) build a constituency of support in the country to help choose a collective goal, and v) Economic policy formulation to achieve the objective. About the World Resources InstituteFounded in 1982, The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future. The World Resources Institute has worked in Africa for over 30 years on forest protection, landscape restoration and more recently, sustainable cities, energy access, and climate action. WRI Africa has built a reputation as a trusted partner on the continent. Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes flourish. There is a strong connection between climate action and economic growth and development. For countries to thrive, they must protect their ecosystems, invest in sustainable infrastructure, and ensure access to clean and reliable energy. This will unlock opportunities to create jobs and support equitable growth and resilient economies. Delaying climate action will mean missing opportunities for climate-resilient economic growth and development.WRI Africa works on four main pillars with target impacts on people, nature and climate:

• Thriving Resilient Cities: WRI works to ensure the future of African cities by helping city administration, private and public investors, and donors make informed decisions on city planning and policy. Our goal is to transition Africa’s urban systems to provide a better quality of life and health through equitable access to jobs and core services for all residents, especially the underserved. At the same time, ensuring cities are more resilient and on a path to climate neutrality by 2050.
• Food, Land and Water: Achieve concrete and measurable outcomes that contribute to impacts on forest conservation and landscape restoration, food security and sustainable land use, and improved land governance. Our vision is to shift Africa’s food, land and water system to meet the needs of all people while protecting nature and halting climate change.
• Sustainable Energy Transition and Access: WRI vision for Africa is to provide clean, reliable, affordable power for all communities while reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Access to clean, affordable and reliable power is essential for human health, education and economic prosperity. Africa requires a balance between urgently increasing access to electricity and building out low-carbon energy systems for the future.
• Climate Economics and Finance: WRI Africa supports advancing climate actions through integrated solutions that help countries drive systems change, data transparency and accountability, planning, and policy decisions and implementation. Our goal is to advance comprehensive and inclusive climate action across adaptation, mitigation, loss, and damage within focus countries, delivering benefits for people, nature, and climate.About the Project or Program NameAs part of the larger WRI’s Strategic Program Fund (SPF-2025) proposal; SPF Africa Project aims to position WRI to support people, nature, and climate-aligned country transitions goals by (i) peer-reviewing and publishing key products on macro-economic modelling for country transitions (from SPF-24), (ii) expanding WRI's in-country modeling capabilities to create solid bridges and dialogue opportunities with key country decision-makers, and (iii) leveraging key political moments by showcasing examples of whole-economy transitions. The Project will focus on developing an economic modeling framework and analysis that can guide the next stage of development of WRI’s thinking and practice on the ‘economics of country transitions, building on the foundation of New Climate Economy, existing work in-country (e.g. New Economy of the Amazon, National Climate Action). This macro policy modeling work will also be expanded to the wider Congo Basin Economy in the next phases of WRI national climate action interventions based on the key learned and insights gained from this work in DRC and other WRI target countries in Africa and beyond. SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES Key Activities
  1. Understanding the Climate Economy in DRC The climate economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is shaped by the country's high vulnerability to climate change, its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors, and its rich natural resources that offer both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. Key issue that the project may focus on include:
     • Political Economy Analysis of climate change reveals a complex interplay of environmental vulnerability, resource wealth, governance challenges, conflict dynamics, and socio-economic development constraints.
     • Climate vulnerability and economic impacts e.g sectoral productivity, GDP, employment, food security, poverty and inequality, cost of adaptation etc.
     • Key sectors that are most affected by climate change and how this affects socio-economic and environmental performance.
     • Strategic vision, policy landscape and institutional frameworks to address climate change and on-going efforts to mobilize climate finance.
     • Natural resources and climate solutions.
       • National Data, modeling and Policy Modeling Stocktaking Conduct a whole-institute survey to understand existing data and modeling frameworks being used for Economic Planning and Projections for Growth and GHG Emissions, and current capabilities in the country:
         • Collect information about climate and economic data at the national level and within the different sectors
         • Identify priority policy questions, e.g. what sectors can drive green growth and/or are vulnerable to climate risks? What sustainable land and forest use policies are needed? How can extractive industries be more sustainable and climate-resilient?
         • Identify Key players and stakeholders (state and non-state actors) relevant to the DRC’s New Climate Economy (NCE) in economic planning, Macroeconomic policy analysis and decision-making process including technical and financial support.
         • Develop key macro policy level question that DRC seeks to answer for just and inclusive country transition.
           1. Development of an Analytical Framework
              • Based on the outcome of the stocktaking and the key guiding questions, refine the key research questions through consultation and expert input.
              • Propose and outline existing or new economy wide modelling and analytical framework that may suit DRC existing data needs, policy priorities aligned to the country’s transition pathways prospects.
              • Based on proposed guiding questions, develop the Economywide Macro Level Simulation Modelling Framework that will inform the transition pathways of economic trajectories and GHG emission pathways including the design of a conceptual model or blueprint for the NCE for DRC.
              • In consultation with the key policy stakeholders, frame the Modeling content structure, key data, parameters needed, and policy interventions/measures to be considered in the modelling work
              • Outline the key development outcomes such as poverty level, unemployment, inequality equity, carbon market revenue, GHG emission reduction, and among others that should be assessed using the model to inform the transition pathways.
              • Propose the next phase of Modeling and Analysis steps.
                1. Develop a clear communication strategy, including reports, visualizations, and presentations, to convey findings.
                   • Develop key messages and recommendations for DRC’s country transition. TIMING The duration of the service is 6 months between June and December2025 (start and end dates to be confirmed). WRI’s CEF technical team will provide support on all the deliverables and the consultant will give access to content, draft documents, policies, strategies etc to the CEF technical team. No Deliverable/Task/Activity Date 1 Inception report detailing the assignment including the possible stakeholders and partnership to support the project July 2025 2 Map out relevant stakeholders and set-up partnerships that will identify the relevant question to be addressed in this assignment August 2025 3 National Data, modeling and Policy Modeling Stocktaking Assessment reportSeptember 2025 4 Proposed Modelling and Analytical FrameworkOctober 2025 5Develop a clear communication strategy of findings through reports, visualizations, and presentations November 2025 BUDGET Contract value shall be decided in negotiation between WRI and the Consultant based on quote provided in the Consultant’s proposal but should ideally not exceed $25,000.00USD.