ACS/ Lead Consultant for the Development of the Governance Strategic Framework of the Smartbots Lab for Botswana

Result of Service The overall objective of the consultancy will be to assist the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub to develop the SmartBots Lab Governance Framework to fully operationalise the SmartBots Lab including core elements such as recommendations on operations, human capital needs assessment and capacitation, and the procurement of requisite technologies to establish a physical and virtual environment that supports all activities of the Lab. This will also include ensuring that the Lab establishes effective strategic partnerships with academia/research institutions and that it has seamless alignment with the Commercialisation Centre.

Work Location Remotely

Expected duration 4 months starting from the date of the signature of the contract.

Duties and Responsibilities Background

Botswana aims to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and move the country towards a Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE), without leaving anyone behind. The 4IR requires the digital transformation of everything – from the way we live, work, and learn to how we interact. To achieve this, Botswana has developed a Fourth Industrial Revolution Digital Transformation Strategy (SmartBots), as a new proposition to drive transformation across the economy, government, and society. SmartBots is an action plan that delivers a smart sustainable society for Botswana and Batswana – and all those who live in it. The plans described are aligned with the National Vision 2036 goal to transform Botswana from an upper-middle-income country to high-income status by 2036, all the while supporting the development of Botswana’s digital economy.

The implementation of the SmartBots plan entails adopting a “whole of Government “approach to transform the public sector, and thus enable it to efficiently provide services to citizens and businesses. The strategy also places great emphasis on the engagement of the innovation ecosystem including the private sector to successfully implement the SmartsBots priorities and initiatives.

At the core of Botswana’s public sector transformation will be the transformation of the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) to the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH). This facility will function in a quadruple helix model driven by the public sector, on co-creating innovative citizen-driven public services that can be: (1) deployed and championed in the Botswana Government; (2) co-developed by young innovators, SMEs within established frameworks; and (3) sold through newly established (startup) companies incubated at the BDIH, first in Africa and then the world.

The BDIH will be led by a multidisciplinary team that will support public sector agencies to design services and public policies that are citizen-driven, i.e., services that are co-created with citizens to address specific challenges and needs. BDIH will facilitate inter-departmental and government-to-citizen co-creation and collaboration through fostering a culture of experimentation and innovation to building a responsive public service. Core to this, will be the operationalisation of the Public Service Transformation and Technology Lab (SmartBots Lab) that will oversee and ensure execution of co-creation activities (aggregating challenges and identifying suitably qualified digital innovators to develop appropriate solutions), and the Commercialisation Centre whose primary goal is to ensure the monetisation of innovative ideas identified through the SmartBots Lab.

In addition to the work to transform the Hub in readiness for it to deliver on the objectives of the SmartBots Strategy, there is ongoing work to ignite a thriving innovation ecosystem that supports innovators from ideation to delivery of functional innovative solutions to the market. In line with this SmartBots, is at an advanced stage of completing a consultancy on the National Innovation Capability Framework to improve coordination and effectiveness of the innovation ecosystem in Botswana. The framework will seek to strengthen SMMEs innovation capacity and make them more competitive, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in Botswana, the African region, and beyond.

It is against this backdrop that ECA seeks the services of an expert with relevant experience in innovation, technology, and/or solutions development to develop the SmartBots Lab Governance Framework. This consultancy will endeavour to take cognisance of (and align) with existing policies and frameworks influencing the activities of Botswana’s innovation ecosystem. Purpose and objective of the consultancy

The overall objective of the consultancy will be to assist the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub to develop the SmartBots Lab Governance Framework to fully operationalise the SmartBots Lab including core elements such as recommendations on operations, human capital needs assessment and capacitation, and the procurement of requisite technologies to establish a physical and virtual environment that supports all activities of the Lab. This will also include ensuring that the Lab establishes effective strategic partnerships with academia/research institutions and that it has seamless alignment with the Commercialisation Centre.

Scope and Tasks of Work

Through the identification and engagement of a suitably qualified and experienced entity/innovation lab that will serve as the SmartBots Lab implementation partner, the project is expected to deliver the following outputs: Full operationalisation of the Public Service Transformation and Technology Lab (SmartBots Lab) to produce solutions that facilitate easy, seamless and secure service delivery by the public sector. This will include: Documentation of governance framework, relevant policies, operating guidelines and procedure manuals relating to the Lab’s day-to-day operations Review of existing partnerships and alignment to SmartBots Labs needs where appropriate Development of financial sustainability/business model recommendations for the Lab.

Duties and responsibilities of the consultant Under this role, the Consultant reports to the Director of the African Centre for Statistics or the designated relevant responsible officer. Upon and during the commencement of the assignment, the implementation partner will be expected to: Serve as the Team leader to guide the work of consultants, resource persons, and other professional staff engaged to work in the development of the SmartBots Lab Framework and associated reports, Undertake a briefing with SmartBots and UNECA team staff before the commencement of the project to agree on ways of working and reporting, and aligning the scope of work with expected deliverables. Develop a strategic approach and methodology and prepare a work plan to undertake the assignment; Develop an internationally benchmarked templates, guidelines and questionnaires to facilitate data collection and information gathering to support the the SmartBots Lab Governance Framework development process; Work with ECA and the project team to identify private players in Botswana to be engaged with in shaping the strategies of the SmartBots Lab Framework Conduct the needs assessment exercise (baseline study) aiming at identifying existing relevant policies and frameworks including the National Innovation Capability Framework, BDIH Innovation Policies, etc., and defining new requirements in the various sectors and ensure their work reflects and is aligned to said documents. Undertake consultations with Government officials, parliamentarians, civil society, private sector, academia, and other stakeholders to support the development of the SmartBots Lab Framework and implementation process which may include: Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ministry of Transport and Communications Government Online Team Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) Innovators assisted by BIH Research/Academic Institutions including University of Botswana (UB), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), etc. National Strategy Office National Transformation Strategy Team Etc. Facilitate dialogue and discussions between the SmartBots Team and other relevant Ministries and key stakeholders (businesses, research, training, and education institutions) to support the SamartBots Lab Operationalisation Plan development process; Lead the preparation of relevant interim/progress reports on key aspects, milestones, and deliverables of the SmartBots Lab Framework process including putting together the final version of the SmartBots Lab Framework including the Business Model, Governance, processes, people, technology, Budget, and compliance relating to the Lab’s day-to-day operations for submission to UNECA/SmartBots Contribute to organizing and making presentations at national sensitization, consultation, validation, and plan-ownership workshops aimed at promoting and raising awareness, building consensus from all stakeholders, and enhancing ownership of the SmartBots Lab by stakeholders and relevant institutions Submit to the UNECA/SmartBots Team the final deliverables including the Stakeholder Engagement Plan that have been amended taking into consideration commentary from stakeholder review. Prepare a learning and communication policy brief to reflect key highlights from the assignment, including learnings and other aspects of the SmartBots Lab that could be disseminated widely, work with SmartBots on developing it; and submit it to the UNECA team.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced University degree (Ph. D or equivalent levels) in innovation, technology, and/or solutions development or related areas from a recognized education institution is required. A Master’s degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in innovation, technology, and/or solutions development of which 3 years should have been spent in a senior/leadership position is required. Deep understanding of significant aspects of technologies, business models, and regulations relevant to the industry and experience in setting up innovation labs is an advantage. Demonstrated success in defining a culture of innovation and driving dramatic growth through new revenue sources is an advantage Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy advertised, fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of the other language is an advantage.

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.