NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT THE TECHNOLOGY NEED ASSESSMENT (TNA) IN BURKINA FASO

Result of Service1. Stakeholders onboarding process and TNA kick-off - 1 day Tasks: Participate in the kick-off meeting Deliverables: Meeting minutes, Inception report 2. Analysis of the STI environment and National System of Innovation - 16 days Tasks: 2.1. Identify information sources, collect and analyze relevant data to analyze the country’s level of STI development and appraise its absorptive capacity, including key STI indicators and trends, information on STI governance structures and arrangements, information on investment in science and technology etc. 2.2 Design and conduct consultations with the technical working group and selected STI experts in the country, including by holding interviews and focus group meetings. Identify at least six STI experts and conduct in-depth interviews to discuss findings and complement the analysis. 2.3 Prepare a short report to inform the drafting of the TNA chapter on the contextual background and STI environment in Burkina Faso, including a critical analysis of existing strengths and weaknesses. Deliverables: List of interviewees and interview transcripts in French or English Short report (5-10 pages) summarizing the national context and the main findings on the STI environment 3. Identification of key development goals and challenges and selection of TNA focus sector(s) - 20 days Tasks: 3.1 Convening and Moderating focus group meetings with the technical working group to discuss the development challenges, identify priority development ambitions that can be more effectively addressed through technology and agree on 2-3 TNA focus sector(s). Deliverables: Meeting minutes Tasks: 3.2 Identify information source and gather sectoral policy documents, strategies and data to analyze sectoral development, key gaps and challenges, technology adoption, investment flows and major initiatives. 3.3 Analyzing the findings and preparing a short report to inform the drafting of the TNA chapter on the priority development goals and challenges and the TNA focal sector(s). Deliverables: Short report (5-10 pages) summarizing the main findings on the priority development challenges and the focal sectors of the TNA. 4.Technology Needs Analysis - 20 days Tasks: 4.1 Identify key sectoral experts and design and submit a survey /interview questionnaire to identify relevant technologies in the focal sectors which can effectively contribute to priority development goals; identify those technologies already available in the country and those suitable for transfer; analyze survey data. Engagement with national and international investment agencies, regional development banks, and private sector investors to identify concrete opportunities for investment in technology adoption in the priority sectors. Deliverables: List of proposed sectoral and technology experts to be interviewed Draft survey or interview questionnaire List of respondents and interview summaries where applicable Tasks: 4.2 Identify key technology experts and conduct focus group meeting to: identify criteria and weights to prioritize technologies; discuss scoring for each technology; identify barriers and challenges. 4.3 Prepare a short report to inform the drafting of the TNA chapter on technology analysis; finalize the ranking of five priority technologies, in close consultation with the international consultant. Deliverables: Short report (5-10 pages) summarizing the main findings on the technology needs analysis. 5.TNA Report - 7 days Tasks: 5.1 In collaboration with the international consultant, contribute to the preparation and revision of the first draft of the TNA report for review by the UN Technology Bank, the focal ministry and the technical working group. Complement the analysis as required to adequately inform the report. Work LocationBurkina Faso Expected duration9 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesScience, technology, and innovation are key instruments for the socio-economic transformation of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and their sustainable development. For the purposes of this study, technology refers to hardware, technical know-how, technical skills, and software applied to solve development-related challenges. LDCs suffer from deficits in their Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) capacities, absorptive as well as adaptive capacities, and lag substantially behind both emerging and advanced economies. The Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs for the Decade 2022-2031 identifies ‘Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the SDGs’ as a key focus area towards sustainable and irreversible graduation and calls for a new generation of renewed and strengthened commitments between the LDCs and their development partners, including the private sector, civil society, and governments at all levels. This TOR involves conducting stakeholder consultations and related fieldwork to inform the preparation of a Technology Needs Assessment (TNA). From the Technology Bank’s perspective, the TNAs are policy tools designed to serve the following purposes: 1. Identify the specific sectors or economic activities in LDCs that require technological input solutions, and which is the level of technological development in each of them. 2. Ensure that the technological solutions identified are appropriate and compatible with LDCs’ level of development and are aligned with their national development strategies. 3. Appraise the absorptive capacities of LDCs by reviewing the STI ecosystem in the LDCs, particularly the skills-base, technology policy, and the institutional and regulatory environment governing the national innovation system (NIS). The rationale for appraising the local absorptive capacities is to gauge the ability of the country to utilize and learn from transferred technologies and absorb and assimilate the technology locally through adaptation and upgrading. 4. Consult with key national stakeholders, particularly the private sector, to determine the technological needs of LDCs from a wider perspective. 5. Recommend technological solutions and the specific sectors and sub-sectors where private and public investment and STI-related capacity building is needed and could enable LDCs to address immediate development challenges and narrow the technological gap with more developed economies. The TNA for Burkina Faso will contribute significantly to policy and strategy development, supporting Burkina Faso’s national development agenda, in line with the country’s 2nd National Economic and Social Development Plan for accelerating the achievement of the SDGs through science, technology, and innovation. To support this effort, this development plan sets itself the overall objective of restoring security and peace, strengthening resilience of the nation and structurally transforming the national economy, for strong, sustainable and inclusive growth. This plan has identified four key sectors—Agriculture and Livestock, Construction and Public Works, Trade and Transport, and Telecommunications—and associated technologies, which will serve as a foundation for the TNA preparation. This process will also identify key STI capacity-building priorities, offering strategic guidance to bilateral donors, multilateral and regional development banks, foundations, NGOs, and private sector partners (e.g., Chambers of Commerce and Industry, accelerators, incubators) in their STI-related initiatives within Burkina Faso. Purpose and Scope of Assignment In general, the challenges facing the LDCs are numerous, and they cut across sectors and income levels. Thus, in principle, LDCs need all sorts of technologies (both hard and soft) to tackle immediate challenges and accelerate the development process. However, access to the diverse range of technologies they need is neither easy not feasible – partly because of the high cost acquiring technologies and partly because LDCs have low-level of absorptive capacities, which limit their ability to absorb, learn, assimilate, and upgrade the acquired technologies. This makes the TNA a useful tool for pinpointing specific areas where appropriate and relevant technological solutions can be used to help LDCs overcome some of the obstacles to development. The TNA will rely on a wide conceptualization of technology and look at technology as the systematic knowledge and skills used in the process of production or service delivery. This knowledge can be embodied in products or processes. The overarching goal of the consultancy is to review the key development challenges facing Burkina Faso and identify technologies that could provide sustainable solutions in socio-economic sectors, informing the preparation of the Technology Needs Assessment by conducting stakeholder consultations and country-level and regional analysis of findings. In conducting the assessment, the consultant is expected to: In conducting the assessment, the consultant is expected to: (a) gather and analyze the latest available data and documents relevant to examine the national development strategy of the country; the level of STI development, and the main drivers of growth, industrial development and structural transformation; (b) conduct extensive stakeholders’ engagement to inform the identification of 2-3 specific areas (i.e, sectors, economic activities, social concerns, environment-related challenges) and related sub-sectors which will be key drivers of economic growth and diversification and where technological solutions could provide remedies to existing challenges; and (c) conduct extensive stakeholders’ engagement to inform the identification of technologies and/or technical know-how that the country needs to accelerate these sectors’ advancement and promote overall socio-economic development for the country. Additionally, the consultant will identify opportunities to leverage public and private investment to support Burkina Faso's development through technology. This will include reviewing existing investment flows, potential private sector engagement, and public-private partnerships that could catalyze technology adoption and innovation. The main objectives of the consultancy assignment are: 1. To collect STI data and consult a selected sample of experts to inform the STI environment analysis, reviewing key policy documents, national development plans and strategies, STI governance structures and arrangements, investment in science and technology, key STI indicators, initiatives and trends, and related insights. 2. To engage and consult a wide range of experts and stakeholders to: identify development challenges in the country that can be addressed using technologies; identify the sub-sectors and economic activities with higher transformation potential; and analyze their trends and development, highlighting the role each can play in supporting the country in meeting its development goals and priorities. When identifying the sub-sectors, ensure a comprehensive analysis is conducted to determine the implications for foreign direct investment activity in each specific sub-sectors, research investment drivers and assess their potential as sources of foreign direct investment. 3. To engage and consult stakeholders to identify and build consensus on priority technologies that can adequately and effectively address the country’s development challenges and drive structural transformation and sustainable development, while acknowledging existing STI initiatives in the country and the role of indigenous technologies. 4. To engage and consult stakeholders to identify barriers and challenges hindering the acquisition, deployment, and diffusion of prioritized technologies as well as the scale up of existing technologies in the country including indigenous ones. Under the supervision of the UN Technology Bank for LDCs, the national consultant will work closely with an international consultant to undertake the following tasks: a. Gather the latest available data and documents to inform the analysis of the national context and science, technology and innovation environment, including evidence on the country’s current technological gaps and capacity in terms of innovation capabilities, research and development (R&D), engineering, technical and vocational skills, etc. The primary objective for assessing the country’s national innovation system is to understand the level of technological development of the country and appraise the country’s capacity to utilize and absorb prioritized and transferred technologies. b. Lead the coordination of in-country participatory processes, including interviews, focus groups and surveys, to identify key sectors and related sub-sectors that have the potential to drive Burkina Faso’s socio-economic development in the next five years. The core areas/sub-sectors/industry groups of focus will be selected with the aim of maximizing the impact of technology as an instrument to foster structural transformation, reduce poverty, increase social and economic growth and promote inclusive sustainable development. c. Lead the design and coordination of in-country participatory processes, including interviews, focus groups and surveys, to identify and prioritize technologies for the relevant sectors. The process should involve a broad range of relevant industry and technology experts and stakeholders, aiming to analyze how the prioritized technologies can be implemented in the country and how implementation circumstances could be improved by addressing related barriers. d. Ensure that collected data and evidence are adequate to inform analysis and recommendations on the role of STI in trade, especially towards reducing import reliance and increasing export diversification. Furthermore, ensure that the TNA incorporates gender and inclusion perspectives and considers environmental factors in all aspects of the analysis. e. Liaise with the UN Technology Bank and with the international consultant to coordinate the approach and methodology, analyze and discuss findings, draft and revise chapters and prepare the draft and final TNA report. The consultancy will also include the following activities: ● Facilitating stakeholder engagements/workshops. ● Designing and coordinating participatory assessment processes to collect qualitative and quantitative data, including surveys, focus group meetings and interviews. ● Parsing and synthesizing large amounts of information into analytical insights. ● Carrying out high quality research and producing knowledge products. ● Project planning and reporting arrangements, including working in professional teams. Qualifications/special skills- An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, International Development and Trade or related areas. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - At least seven (7) years of working experience in international development and trade, science, technology and innovation, or related area is required. - Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, and data analysis techniques is required. - Knowledge of technologies and key issues/policies in science technology and innovation is required. - Good understanding of local context, including national development agenda, national S&I strategy, and LDC transition strategy, and well-established networks in the country is required. - Strong analytical writing and communication skills are required. - Publications on international development related matters is desirable. - Previous work experience with the United Nations or other international organizations is desirable. LanguagesFluency in oral and written French is required. Fluency in oral and written English is desirable. Additional Information- Le consultant national rendra compte directement à la Banque de technologie des Nations unies mais travaillera en étroite collaboration avec le consultant international. - Le consultant sera engagé pour une durée maximale de 64 jours ouvrables et restera disponible pour achever les prestations dans les délais convenus. - Le montant forfaitaire des honoraires de la consultance sera tout compris. - Tous les rapports doivent être soumis à la Banque de technologie des Nations unies sous forme de copies électroniques en français. No FeeTHE 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.