Request for Proposal: Sr. Innovation Advisor – Frontier Technologies Programme

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Contract type: 6-month Fixed Term Contract, April 2024 – March 2025. Part time: 60% (3 days per week).

Please note that funding for this role is confirmed through March 2025, with on-going funding anticipated for an additional 3-5 years beyond that.

About the Innovation Practice

Around the world, individuals and institutions are finding new ways to work faster and smarter to address pressing challenges in health, education and nutrition systems. By adapting innovations to different contexts, creating novel approaches and solutions, and anticipating possible futures, these change agents are delivering better outcomes for citizens and challenging systemic inequalities.

In partnership with change agents, we facilitate the scale-up of innovations — addressing supply and demand-side barriers to scaling the impact of individuals or cohorts of innovations. We also facilitate the strengthening of innovation ecosystems — addressing specific gaps, weaknesses and inefficiencies in the environment that are constraining innovation and scaling processes. To achieve these goals, we work with a range of innovation ecosystem actors, including social entrepreneurs, governments, civil society organisations and development agencies.

Read more about the practice and some examples of our flagship programmes here.

Scope of Work (SoW)

R4D is soliciting offers from individuals, firms and organizations to serve as a Sr. Innovation Advisor (hereafter “Contractor”) based in Ethiopia to support our global Innovation Practice. This opportunity represents a chance to support on one of R4D’s flagship innovation programmes, the Frontier Technologies Hub (FT Hub), funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Contractor will work closely with a collaborative programme team which embraces innovation and learning together, and build a new workstream in the Frontier Tech Hub (FT Hub) that mobilises local ecosystem actors around a demand-led frontier technology solution. Experience of working in emerging technology innovation, and established relationships with key innovation ecosystem stakeholders (bi/multi-laterals, governments, investors and NGOs) in Ethiopia is highly desirable.

The Frontier Tech Hub is made up of a consortium of three partners (R4D, DT Global and Brink), who have a strong working relationship with the FCDO. 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. This exciting opportunity has emerged as part of the introduction of a new demand-led programme workstream. The Contractor will support the Workstream Lead to co-develop the workstream strategy in Ethiopia, and support the execution of program workplan and strategy to a high standard.

Objective of the consultancy:

The ’Demand-Led’ workstream will focus on identifying truly local and demand-driven challenges in low/middle-income contexts which can be addressed through the application of frontier technology solutions. We define ‘demand’ as the request / articulation of interest for a particular product or service (the innovation) by potential adopters of the innovation (which could include governments, civil society and/or target users in the general population).

The Contractor will work collaboratively with the FT Hub Demand-Led team led by R4D as well as the FCDO country post and their local ecosystem network (governments, multi/bi- laterals, CSOs and NGOs) to explore and identify demand-led solutions. The Contractor will report to the FT Hub Programme Manager (based in London).

The scope will involve delivering output and insights involving the following phases of an innovation framework and producing associated innovation tools, resources and methods:

• Scope:
  • Co-facilitate monthly consultations and workshops with ecosystem stakeholders to frame and narrow down of sector and thematic priorities.
  • Identify and facilitate relationships with key stakeholders and potential partners.
• Explore:
  • Research and develop a framework for articulating and validating multi-dimensional demand;
  • Co-lead deep exploration of potential frontier tech innovation including innovation ecosystem analysis and support understanding of innovation ecosystem maturity and readiness to support/adopt an innovative solution
• Design:
  • Co-design context-appropriate, demand-led frontier tech innovations/solutions with local change agents.
  • Facilitate design workshops with various local innovation ecosystem stakeholders to develop solution archetypes and terms of reference for solutions.

The Contractor will play a critical role in networking and building strategic relationships in-country, working with the FT Hub and FCDO to mobilise the local network/ecosystem, identify key stakeholders, and support them to explore the potential of emerging technologies to address local development challenges. The Contractor will facilitate the technical delivery of innovation resources, tools and frameworks to support both the progression of the innovation phases mentioned above, and the development of key innovation skills and attitudes, especially for FCDO staff. The Contractor will additionally be responsible for identifying opportunities where other (formal and informal) partnerships could be formed, and for leading facilitation of strategic innovation workshops, either alone or in collaboration with the programme Workstream Lead.

Level of Effort (LoE) and Period of Performance

R4D anticipates this scope of work to require up to 3 days/week of engagement on average spread over ≈6 months through March 31st, 2025. Specific schedules for workshops will be determined in consultation with the Contractor and FT Hub staff / stakeholder priorities and availability.

Responsibilities

Innovation Practice Strategy & Management

• Support the development of the strategy in Ethiopia for the Demand-Led workstream.
• Contribute to the development of innovation methods, tools, and resources.
• Represent the FT Hub at meetings, conferences and events as required.

Project / Programme Management

• Manage in-country deliverables with the Workstream Lead, delivering them on time and to a high standard.
• Lead development of high-quality technical innovation deliverables that support the progression of the workstream project plans.
• Proactively identify and manage risks and issues and providing advisory on sensitive topics and issues with empathy to achieve preferred outcomes.
• Contribute to funder reporting, for example contribute to formal Quarterly or Annual Reviews.
• Contribute to operational processes such as procurement and budgeting, as and when requested by the Lead.

Stakeholder Engagement and Management

• Maintain a strong collaborative partnership with the FCDO country post staff.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with key ecosystem stakeholders in country and identify opportunities to forge formal and informal working partnerships.
• Identify creative ways to develop knowledge and understanding of how emerging technologies can be applied to development challenges.
• Create crisp, impactful content and effectively adapt it for presentation to relevant audiences.
• Plan and lead engaging and productive meetings and workshops with key local stakeholders with support from the Workstream Lead.

Technical Input

• Develops technical / analytical products such as articles, reports, tools and frameworks including effectively structuring complex analytical problems and high-quality qualitative and quantitative analytics.
• Provide advisory to local external partners to produce technical deliverables and provide direction on the content, structure, etc.
• Provide technical and quality review of project deliverables as required.

Qualifications and Experience

The selected firm/individual for this role will have excellent networking skills and the ability to build strategic relationships. They will have a strong track record of managing a range of stakeholders and working on projects and programmes involving detailed work planning, collaboration across geographically disbursed teams, funder engagement, management of multiple partnerships (including with innovation and / or public sector actors), risk management, and ensuring the production of high-quality deliverables.

The successful firm/individual should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• In-depth understanding of the local innovation ecosystem and demonstratable relationships established with key stakeholders in the local innovation ecosystem.
• Programme and project management experience in global development.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, delivery, and facilitation of workshops or capacity-building initiatives with a range of stakeholders.
• Impeccable writing, communication, and presentation skills (e.g. in-person/virtual presentations, meeting facilitation, etc.) for high-level stakeholders, including the ability to engage diverse audiences and foster interactive learning environments in both English and Amharic.
• Proven experience of working in a matrixed environment across multiple donor-funded projects.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships with a diversity of different development actors.
• Ability to perform work as a contractor and sign legal contracts in Ethiopia, including occasional travel throughout Ethiopia based on project needs.

Evaluation Criteria

Offerors will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Quality and alignment of proposed approach with the requirements and objectives detailed in the SoW.
• Qualifications of proposed team/individual, including:
  • Expertise in the field of technology innovation in the Ethiopia context, including experience with innovation methodologies such as user-centred design / agile / adaptive learning;
  • Understanding of the innovation and scaling process and innovation ecosystems. Experience working directly with innovators/entrepreneurs and/or other innovation ecosystem actors;
  • Sectoral experience in areas of climate, health, education or nutrition;
  • Experience managing components of FCDO and/or other large donor funded programmes.
• Past performance in the delivery of activities of similar size and scope.
• Reasonableness of proposed budget.

Terms and Conditions

This consultancy will be subject to a formal agreement outlining terms, conditions, and deliverables between the final selected Contractor and R4D. Payments to the Contractor will be made in accordance with the receipt and approval by R4D of agreed-upon milestones and deliverables under this agreement.

Submission Instructions

Interested firms or individuals are invited to submit their proposals, including a detailed proposed approach to each deliverable, methodology, timeline, budget, and CV through the “Apply” button below by 5:00pm London time, Monday, September 30th.