Result of Service

The purpose of the consultancy is to prepare a concise report that draws insights from the 16 completed TNAs. The consultant will work from the full reports and related documentation supplied by the UN Technology Bank, complemented where necessary by authoritative public sources and focused exchanges agreed with the UN Technology Bank.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Science, technology, and innovation (STI) are critical to the structural transformation, resilience, and sustainable development of the least developed countries (LDCs). The Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031 recognizes the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (UN Technology Bank) as a focal point for LDCs in the area of STI and calls for strengthened support to build their science, technology, and innovation capacities. Since 2019, the UN Technology Bank has supported Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) in LDCs. The assessments identify priority technologies and technical know-how, examine the policy and institutional environment for technology acquisition and use, and propose measures to strengthen absorptive and adaptive capacities. Sixteen TNAs have been completed, creating a substantial body of country-grounded evidence across different regions, development contexts, and sectors. The assessments covered by this assignment were completed in Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Cambodia, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Timor-Leste and Uganda. The UN Technology Bank will draw on this evidence to prepare a report. It will make the accumulated learning accessible to LDC governments and development partners, demonstrate why TNAs matter as a tool for identifying and communicating national technology priorities, and inform policy dialogue and international support ahead of the mid-term review of the Doha Programme of Action. The DPoA mid-term review process will draw on national and regional reviews, followed by an intergovernmental preparatory meeting by January 2027 and the comprehensive high-level review in Doha from 25 to 27 March 2027. The review will assess progress, achievements, gaps and challenges and identify priorities for the remaining five years of implementation. By aggregating evidence from 16 country-level TNAs into an LDC-wide evidence base, this synthesis will help operationalize the UN Technology Bank’s role as a focal point for STI and inform the review process. The consultant should therefore relate the principal themes emerging from the TNAs to the DPoA priority areas and objectives, highlighting relevant achievements, gaps, and implementation challenges. Purpose and Scope of Assignment The assignment will:

Develop an approach for extracting and organizing evidence from TNAs that differ in structure, methodology, scope and date of completion.
Identify typical and context-specific technology priorities, capability gaps, enabling conditions, barriers, implementation needs and policy messages.
Identify recurring trends, patterns, themes and sectoral priorities emerging across different groups of LDCs and country typologies, and analyse how technology needs, constraints, opportunities, capabilities and enabling conditions vary according to structural, geographic, demographic and development characteristics, highlighting implications for technology access, adoption, adaptation and development.
Explain both recurring themes and material differences across country contexts, regions, sectors and technology areas, without implying a uniform pathway for LDCs.
Relate the principal themes emerging from the TNAs to the DPoA priority areas and objectives, identifying relevant achievements, gaps and challenges and their implications for the second half of its implementation period.
Highlight practical implications for technology acquisition, absorption, adaptation, financing, maintenance and scaling in LDCs.
Identify opportunities for regional and South-South cooperation, partnerships and more effective international support.
Where feasible and agreed with the UN Technology Bank, undertake focused exchanges with selected STI officials to enrich understanding of the practical use of TNAs and the challenges of leveraging them effectively.
Formulate practical messages and recommendations for LDC governments, the UN Technology Bank, development partners and other relevant stakeholders, including actions that can support achievement of DPoA objectives during the remaining implementation period.
Draw practical lessons on how TNAs can be used as strategic tools to articulate technology-transfer priorities, support dialogue with development partners and help catalyse investment in priority technology areas, without turning the product into an evaluation of individual assessments. The methodology may use carefully framed thematic and comparative analysis where it adds value, particularly to illuminate shared challenges, promising practices and differences in country circumstances. To support the DPoA mid-term review, the knowledge product should relate its principal messages to relevant DPoA priority areas and objectives. Any comparative element should account for differences in country contexts, TNA methodologies and data availability, and should explain its limitations clearly. It should be used to support learning and interpretation, rather than to assess countries against a uniform standard. The principal knowledge product should not exceed 30 pages, excluding annexes, and should be accompanied by a short executive brief of approximately 2-3 pages and a presentation. Supporting analytical material, including an evidence matrix and methodological note, may be included in annexes or submitted separately. The product should be concise, visually clear and suitable for external publication. It should present limitations transparently and avoid claims that are not supported by the available evidence.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, development studies, science, technology and innovation policy, innovation studies, international development or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in research and policy analysis related to STI, technology policy, innovation systems, productive transformation, technology transfer or international development is required.
Demonstrated experience leading or co-leading comparative, cross-country or thematic policy publications and producing high-quality outputs for policy audiences is required.
Proven ability to synthesize heterogeneous evidence and analyse mixed qualitative and quantitative material is required.
Demonstrated ability to formulate actionable policy recommendations and communicate complex findings through clear writing, tables, figures and presentations is required.
Strong knowledge of the development challenges of LDCs, including technological learning, absorptive and adaptive capacity, technology diffusion, productive transformation, resilience and sustainable graduation, is desirable.
Experience working with the United Nations, international organisations, or development cooperation institutions is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Additional Information

The consultant will report to the UN Technology Bank official designated to supervise the assignment and will work closely with relevant programme unit staff.

The consultancy is home-based. The UN Technology Bank will provide the 16 completed TNAs, along with other available background documentation.
The consultant will be responsible for the equipment, software and connectivity required to perform the assignment.
All deliverables shall be submitted in English and in editable electronic formats.
The Consultancy lump sum fee will be all-inclusive.
The consultant shall remain available throughout the contract period to participate in remote meetings, presentations, consultations and revisions. All deliverables are subject to review and written approval by the UN Technology Bank.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

International consultancy to prepare a report drawing on Technology Needs Assessments