Cost Benefit Analysis/Urban Economics Consultant
EPIC India is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of interventions aimed at remediating legacy waste and improving municipal solid waste (MSW) management at Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill. The project evaluates ongoing and proposed technologies, such as biomining, waste-to-energy, composting, biomethanation, and RDF, by comparing economic costs, social benefits, and environmental trade-offs under different waste management scenarios.
The Consultant will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing this economic evaluation. They will work closely with EPIC’s internal team, TERI (technical partner), and government agencies to ensure that the cost indicators, benefit assumptions, and scenario design are rigorous, data-driven, and policy-relevant.
About the Trust
The University of Chicago Trust (the Trust) is a charitable trust in India, established in 2008 by alumni of The University of Chicago. The objectives of the UChicago Trust are to provide opportunities for grants to support educational programs, research programs and activities for the betterment of India
About the Unit
India faces the dual challenge of rapidly improving living standards, through sustained economic growth and expanded access to reliable and affordable energy, while simultaneously reducing pollution for a cleaner and healthier environment. EPIC India researchers work hand-in-hand with government and industry partners to identify innovative ideas, pilot them on the ground, and rigorously measure outcomes.
About the Position
EPIC India is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of interventions aimed at remediating legacy waste and improving municipal solid waste (MSW) management at Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill. The project evaluates a mix of ongoing and proposed technologies, such as biomining, waste-to-energy, composting, biomethanation, and RDF, by comparing economic costs, social benefits, and environmental trade-offs under different waste management scenarios.
The Consultant will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing this economic evaluation. They will work closely with EPIC’s internal team, TERI (technical partner), and government agencies to ensure that the cost indicators, benefit assumptions, and scenario design are rigorous, data-driven, and policy-relevant.
Key Responsibilities
Economic Analysis and Scenario Design
- Develop and refine economic models comparing baseline and alternative waste disposal scenarios.
- Incorporate upstream waste segregation and composition changes into economic evaluations.
- Conduct sensitivity analyses to test how outcomes vary with key assumptions (e.g., discount rates, emission factors, pricing volatility).
Collaboration with Research and Government Partners
- Work in close coordination with TERI to align technical and environmental assumptions with economic calculations.
- Liaise with Delhi government departments and urban local bodies to gather operational data, validate assumptions, and contextualise findings.
- Support the presentation of economic findings to relevant policymakers and regulatory stakeholders.
Data Support and Field Coordination
- Oversee the collation of economic data such as CapEx, OpEx, land costs, waste recovery revenues, and carbon credit valuations.
- Guide field teams in collecting primary economic data from local sources, if needed (e.g., waste treatment facilities, vendors).
- Identify appropriate secondary data sources and adjust for local applicability where necessary.
Documentation and Reporting
- Prepare clear documentation of model structure, input assumptions, and results.
- Contribute to internal briefs, technical memos, and policy summaries.
- Support the development of a final report on the economic viability of waste management options at Ghazipur.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher in Economics, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a related field.
- 3-6 years of professional experience, preferably with urban infrastructure and environmental CBA work.
- Familiarity with waste sector dynamics in Indian urban contexts and MSW policy landscape.
- Experience working with or within Indian government agencies or urban local bodies.
- Strong field engagement experience and knowledge of primary and secondary data collection.
- Fluency in English; working proficiency in Hindi is highly desirable.
Working Conditions
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in India.
Reporting Line
The Cost-Benefit Analysis/Urban Economics Consultant will report to the Research and Policy Manager – EPIC India.
Apply before June 29, 2025, 11:59 PM.