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Frontier Tech Hub

Contract durations: 3 months, starting January to March 2025

Deadline for applications: 9th December @ 23.59 UK time

Background to FT Hub

The Frontier Technologies (FT) Hub works with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the intersection of tech, innovation, and international development to advance the use of frontier solutions to solve development challenges. The FT Hub engages in a wide range of emerging tech solutions (Blockchain, AI, Biotech, IOT sensors, drones, web3, augmented/virtual reality, 3D printing/distributed manufacturing) providing investment and support to early-stage higher risk frontier technology innovations for social good, gathering evidence on what works and what does not to inform future investments. FT Hub shares this evidence and learning of responsible and inclusive tech tested in context with a range of ecosystem actors in the tech and innovation sector in development.

The FT Hub has various workstreams that operate in a matrixed structure and collectively contribute to achieving the objectives, outcomes, and impact of the programme.

The Opportunity

The FT Hub is currently approaching the end of its second phase, a 5-year cycle of programming referred to as ‘FT2.’ The next phase of the FT programme (FT3) plans to become more externally facing, becoming more of a ‘global’ Hub, and develop strategic relationships/partnerships with key tech and innovation stakeholders in the international development sector. While yet to be confirmed, this potentially includes key partnerships for thought-leadership and learning; sharing and co-funding of FT Hub services and propositions, for example the Helpdesk research function; and aligning strategic goals and resources through other tech innovation programmes within the FCDO and other external stakeholders’ programmes e.g. Ed Tech Hub.

In looking ahead to the next phase (‘FT3’) the Hub consortium partners and the FCDO are keen to ensure FT3 is evidence-led, and the programme, especially the ‘global’ aspect is designed and built on formative and market research of the tech & innovation ecosystem in the international development sector. This research will enable FT3 to identify their value add in the ecosystem and sector, avoid duplication, identify FT3’s unique selling position (USP) and potential partnerships with key ecosystem actors and key activities or initiatives to collaborate on and co-fund.

The formative research conducted will include desktop research, gather insights, understand user needs, and inform decision-making for the design of FT3. The research will focus on understanding the problem space, user behaviours, preference, and context to guide the development of solutions.

Interrogating the problem space in the wide context of tech, innovation and development will be paramount and identifying key assumptions to be tested and (in)validated with evidence is key. An example of a problem and opportunity statement includes “Emerging and frontier tech is a double edge sword. Tech is developing at a rapid speed and has the potential to overcome intractable development challenges, but uptake is slow, and emerging tech has the potential to exacerbate inequities if the tech is not designed for and inclusive of marginalised groups, and is developed responsibility (safe, does no harm) and locally.” FT Hub is keen to be challenged on this problem statement and welcomes alternatives, however all problem statements must be grounded in an evidence base and root causes identified that speak to FT Hub’s value propositions.

The consultant will identify assumptions the current FT2 model is designed on and seek to (in)validate these assumptions. For example, the FT Hub appears to provide a unique space in the innovation and tech ecosystem because it focuses on early stage emerging tech innovation and ‘has a high-risk tolerance.’ Key development actors do not always have a high-risk tolerance in tech innovation, and innovations tend be supported when they have been further de-risked (i.e. transition to scale phase). At FT Hub we believe to enable the uptake (adoption) of frontier tech in LMICs, and for the digital divide and equity gap to close early stage emerging tech is necessary (and is the Hub’s case maybe unique in the ecosystem/sector it sits). These beliefs and assumptions need to be identified, tested, questioned and grounded in research, evidence and from key stakeholders in the ecosystem. A recent External Evaluation on FT Hub highlighted the value of FT Hub and early-stage tech innovation to FCDO advisors. FT Hub is keen to learn what value it may have for the key actors in the tech and innovation ecosystem in development. For example, is there need and a role for high-risk early-stage tech innovation? Is FT Hub alone in this space? What are other organisations doing? What is the role FT Hub can play with these external stakeholders?

The consultant will have access to range of key ecosystem stakeholders e.g. bi-laterals and mulit-laterals through the International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) platform to conduct some of this formative and market research and gather insights from these stakeholders in terms of their needs and ambition for collaborative initiatives, or demand for services or products from FT Hub.

The consultant will identify key FT Hub propositions to be considered or tested with key external stakeholders e.g. Helpdesk, Futures methods, call process etc. The consultant will help to identify the Hubs USP and value propositions, based on evidence and market analysis, within the tech and innovation ecosystem and make recommendations to consider for FT3 programme design.

We are looking for a consultant who has deep knowledge and experience in the tech, innovation and international development sector, who can help the FT Hub stakeholders effectively position FT Hub in this sector. The consult will have demonstratable experience in formative and market research and analysis and producing written research outputs. The consultant will lead a structured approach to this research and provide regular monthly learning and progress updates to key FT Hub stakeholders before delivering a final report. To do this, the consultant will work across the FT Hub consortium partners and engage with IDIA members to gather insights and feedback.

The consultant or partner may be an individual consultant who brings in other expertise at relevant times throughout the process and/or a team of consultants.

Scope of Work:

The key activities of the research include:

1. Explore the problem and opportunity space that FT Hub fits in. Identify possible problem statements and the root causes of these problem statements.
2. Create a strong narrative for the need for early-stage tech innovation. Seek out value statements and propositions of FT Hub. Test and (in)validate these assumptions, values, propositions with evidence. For example, the role and value of early-stage tech innovation in development, is it needed? Why? What value does it have in the wider context of international development? Is there an urgency or a call to action?
3. Provide a market analysis of the tech, innovation and international development sector.
   1. Map out key priorities, effective practice and concepts or theories of the tech, innovation and development sector – what are the key priorities in the sector? What are the driving principles of effective practice? Where are some examples of bright spots or promising practice in early-stage (emerging) tech innovation in development? What are some relevant concepts or theories potentially relevant FT Hub could consider, for example ‘leapfrogging.’
   2. Ecosystem mapping: what are other actors doing in the space (including other FCDO programmes)? Who is leading in early stage emerging tech? Where are the gaps in the sector, or market? Where is there duplication? Where can potential synergies or partnerships be found with other stakeholders, organisations or programmes in the ecosystem?
4. Gather and analyse insights from key stakeholders in the ecosystem (includes IDIA members and FCDO) and test demand for FT Hub collaborative initiatives
   1. Identify what their needs are and how FT Hub could support or enhance their work. Make recommendations to FT Hub for services, products, partnerships, programmes or co-funding opportunities as a result of gathering these insights.
   2. Test potential FT Hub propositions, services, partnerships and programmatic elements e.g. the Helpdesk with key stakeholders and seek if there is demand for these services/elements both withing other FCDO programmes and with external stakeholders. Identify where there is strong demand or need from stakeholders.
5. Based on the research review FT Hub’s vision, mission and raison d’etre, and recommend any adjustments. Propose FT Hub’s USP and value proposition(s) for more globally facing FT Hub.
6. Make key recommendations on the approach to FT3 programme design as a result of this research.

Outputs and Timelines:

Outputs must include the following, although the consultants/partner should propose an approach and set of deliverables that will be deemed most useful to FT Hub/FCDO:

This work is expected to commence from 2nd January 2024 and be completed by mid-March 2025.

Progress Presentation/Workshop 1: Key findings to date shared with key stakeholders at FT Hub

Deadline: Month 1 (early January)

Progress Presentation/Workshop 2: Key findings to date shared with key stakeholders at FT Hub

Deadline: Month 2 (early February)

Draft Report Submission: Submitted for review

Deadline: Month 2 (end of February)

Final Report Submission: Submitted

Deadline: Month 3 (early March)

Final Presentation/Workshop: Presented to key stakeholders at FT Hub

Deadline: Month 3 (early March)

Short regular check-in meetings at 2-week intervals will be with the FT Hub Programme Manager will be expected.

Budget:

The maximum budget available is £30,000 for the Scope of Work

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• 10+ years’ experience in international development or humanitarian sector, either for INGOs, private sector consultancies, innovation agencies and/or government
• 5-7+ years’ working in tech and innovation in the international development space, either for INGOs, private sector consultancies, innovation agencies and/or government
• Significant demonstratable experience of producing market analysis and formative research reports for key sectors in international development
• Strong ability to analyse information and data, distil complex concepts into clear messaging and synthesis information in a logical and coherent way
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to develop and deliver compelling presentations

Desirable:

• Knowledge of working in early-stage innovation with start-ups, innovators, accelerators, incubators or other forms of start-up architecture, or early-stage innovation, and emerging technologies.

Applications instructions:

Please submit the following materials to frontiertechhub@dt-global.com with ‘FT Hub Market and Formative Research’ in the subject line:

• A 2-page CV
• A cover note outlining:
  • Your interest in the opportunity
  • Your experience that relates to the criteria in this ToR
  • Daily fee rate of consultant(s)
  • Proposal outline explaining how you would approach this work. Include the number of days, suggested proposed high-level activities and outputs (in line with the deliverables and scope of work) and total cost.

Applications instructions:

• The deadline for applications is 9th December @ 23.59 UK time
• An assessment of applications will take place on 10th December 2024
• A 30-minute interview with the FT Hub team will take place between 12th -13th December.

Enquiries:

Please contact sraghib@r4d.org for further enquiries regarding this Terms of Reference or for further information on the Frontier Tech Programme

How to Apply:

Please click here to apply.