June 16–18 | Copenhagen, Denmark
PEP Executive Director contributes to global macroeconomic forum
Copenhagen – As countries face the dual challenges of climate change and economic transformation, Ministries of Finance are under pressure to deliver credible, evidence-based policy solutions. At the 2nd Forum on the Macroeconomics of Green and Resilient Transitions, PEP Executive Director Prof. Jane Mariara joined global experts and policymakers to share insights on strengthening national analytical capacity in the Global South.
Co-hosted by the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, the Danish Ministry of Finance, and the Bezos Earth Fund, with support from the Grantham Research Institute, the Forum brought together over 200 participants—including government officials, development banks, academics, and think tanks—for three days of collaborative dialogue. The event featured plenaries, World Café discussions, and regional deep-dive sessions focused on the tools, data, and models needed to support inclusive green transitions.
Prof. Mariara participated in the parallel session on “Building Capacity: Africa and the Middle East” and moderated a breakout discussion exploring the analytical capabilities, needs, and challenges facing African institutions in addressing climate policy priorities.
“There is a critical shortage of skills and tools needed to generate evidence-based macroeconomic insights on green and resilient transitions, which are urgently required to inform policymaking,” she noted.
She emphasized the role of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models in understanding the broad economic impacts of climate policies. However, she pointed out that in many African countries, expert-level capacity remains limited due to high training costs, a lack of tailored programs, and overreliance on external consultants.
“Most macroeconomic modelling training programs in the South often only cover introductory concepts, lacking the depth needed to enable local economists to operate independently in this field,” she explained. “Relying on external experts is not sustainable. We need to build in-country CGE modelling expertise to ensure timely, context-sensitive, and credible economic analysis.”
Prof. Mariara also shared PEP’s experience in combining capacity building with research co-production as a sustainable model for enhancing national modelling expertise.
“A model that combines capacity building with co-production of research—like PEP’s approach—is vital for developing the skills necessary for long-term, economy-wide planning and managing the social and economic impacts of the green transition.”
The Forum’s collaborative design, including structured group work and participant-led discussions, enabled real-time knowledge exchange across continents.
Key takeaway: “I was amazed at the great representation of Ministries of Finance, especially from Africa and Asia—not only the great capacity gaps, but also the thirst for modelling capacity in Ministries of Finance in the Global South. There is so much that PEP and other organizations can do to address these gaps.”
