Inclusive Urban Innovation Expert (2 posts)

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 100414.

In 2020, UNDP initiated pilot efforts in the area of future cities, with pilot work in Sarajevo and in Banja Luka aiming to leverage technology for more resilient and people-cantered public services. Capitalising on the UNDP pilot work in the area of future cities, as well as on low-carbon and sustainable urban development, UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina is supporting a pilot place-based sustainable urban transformation inspired by the theory of the “Urban Rooms of Sarajevo” research, as well as by new urban approaches like the “1-minute city” or the “3 – 30 – 300 urban forestry rule” and implemented through a participatory innovative experimentation within selected 5 city zones in the Municipality of Centar - Sarajevo.

This intervention is implemented in partnership with the Municipality of Centar, the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Architecture, the City of Sarajevo and UNDP. It aims to contribute to inclusive and sustainable urban transformation in Bosnia and Herzegovina by catalysing urban action, enhancing urban inclusive innovation and implementing a portfolio of small-scale interventions within selected urban zones.

The intervention will, among other, support a digital platform for online, interactive crowdsourcing of citizens’ ideas on renewal and green transformation of a number of urban “voids” in the Municipality of Centar – Sarajevo. This online platform will serve as a simple, yet interactive digital tool to enable place-based sourcing of residents’ ideas on the functionality, outlook and purpose of urban spaces. In addition, it will become be a real-time repository of residents’ ideas and views on the urban spaces in the city. The intervention will also seek to facilitate on-spot consultations and creative interactions with citizens and businesses in the 5 target locations, to solicit their ideas and visions for the transformation of the public spaces. All inputs gathered from residents and businesses through the digital platform and the face-to-face events in the target locations will be the basis for people-led planning of interventions for urban green transformation. Finally, at least one of the selected localities will be renewed based on the citizens’ ideas and serve as a demonstration of community-led sustainable urban transformation.

In this context, UNDP is looking to recruit two inclusive urban innovation experts, who will collaborate with the core team of the initiative - architects, digital platform developers, illustrators, communication specialists and the UNDP innovation team – and conceptualise and facilitate new modes of civic participation in urban design and development that stimulate effective engagement of people (and include less-heard voices), raise awareness of citizens about green and sustainable urban transformation, facilitate sharing of ideas and unleashing creativity and innovations, which come together into concrete actions that result in low-carbon transformation of the target public areas. Ultimately, the initiative will test use of technology and social innovation approaches to simulate new ways of inclusive urban planning where “green is an imperative”, which can be scaled to a system level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

Scope of work

As part of this assignment, the Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1) Conceptualise the methods for place-based citizen and private sector engagement in the “re-imagining” of the target public spaces led by the inclusive innovation approach;

2) Provide expert advice and facilitate the implementation of the place-based inclusive consultations, summarise the ideas sourced by participants and advise how to embed them in the detailed design for transforming the target localities;

3) Develop a simple “learning diary” that captures the process, the results and the lessons learnt.

The expected timeframe for the assignment delivery is July to December 2021, with the estimated level of effort of 25 expert days. The entire service will be delivered in the languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

TASK 1: Conceptualise the methods for place-based citizen and private sector engagement in the “re-imagining” of the target public spaces led by the inclusive innovation approach

Firstly, UNDP will familiarise the Consultant with the pilot intervention and the selected 5 locations in the Municipality of Centar – Sarajevo. UNDP and the implementation team will also share with the Consultant all relevant materials and information relevant for this assignment.

In addition to the digital crowdsourcing through the on-line platform, UNDP will facilitate a series of on-the-spot initiatives with citizens and local businesses to obtain their ideas, visions and suggestions for the transformation of target localities. Engaging citizens from all walks of life – artists, engineers, scientists, economists, biologists, etc., as well as from all ages and social status is key to ensuring an inclusive re-imagining of the city. One of the underlying approaches of this initiative is that stimulating new ways of thinking (and then doing!) can be done by innovating in how we work towards solutions, rather than only which solutions we try to create.

Under this task, the Consultant is expected to develop the  social innovation  approaches to be used in the process of collective ideation and (e.g. "Jane Jakobs Walks" interactive workshops, place-based dialogues, gamified workshops, etc.), thus enable effective collaboration among all stakeholders, including the socially vulnerable population groups. Working with the other Inclusive Urban Innovation Consultant and the rest of the implementation team, the Consultant will prepare a simple plan for the 5 on-site consultations, outlining: 1) the approach to be applied (at least one ideation event per location), 2) the target stakeholders and the strategy to outreach and engage them, 3) the necessary technical/other pre-requisites for the consultations, 4) the expected results and 5) the timeline.

These plans will then serve as the backbone for the “implementation diary”, as described in Task 3 of this ToR. The plans will be reviewed by and approved by UNDP.

It is envisaged that this Task will be delivered by the end of August 2021, with the level of effort not exceeding 5 expert days.

TASK 2: Provide expert advice and facilitate the implementation of the place-based inclusive consultations, summarise the ideas sourced by participants and advise how to embed them in the detailed design for transforming the target localities

Under this Task, the Consultant will provide expert advice, from viewpoint of inclusive urban innovation - to the team working to develop the digital platform. The Consultant will take part in the development and testing of the digital platform and offer feedback and guidance from the lens of inclusive urban innovation.

Once the public consultations through the digital platform are launched, the Consultant, together with the other Inclusive Urban Innovation Consultant will lead the on-the-spot facilitation of the collective ideation processes, based on the plans developed under Task 1. The Consultant is expected to steer the urban transformation pilot process with a careful consideration of public views, inputs and potential conflicts in space, ensure full inclusiveness throughout the consultations and improve public knowledge and understanding of the open urban planning concept. In the place-based ideation process, the Consultant will also interact with and be supported by the UNDP and the implementation team.

In addition to facilitating the place-based ideation, the Consultant, together with the other Inclusive Urban Innovation Consultant and the implementation team, will lead and support at least two events that enable testing of the detailed concepts (3D, Virtual reality) depicting the location-specific scenarios for transformation based on the citizens’ ideas.

The collected ideas and inputs will be summarised and categorised by the Consultant and handed-over to the implementation team. All inputs from the public consultations will be then reviewed by architects and urbanists, validated from viewpoint of their feasibility to be realised and ultimately, translated into detailed design concepts with 3D visualisation of the re-imagined urban spaces.

All public engagement and participation activities are to consider inclusiveness of women and vulnerable groups, make use of already existing collaboration and participation platform and activists’ initiatives and be inviting for a multitude of views, needs and public space functions.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered not later than 1 November 2021 and the level of effort will not exceed 17 expert days.

TASK 3: Develop a simple “learning diary” that captures the process, the results and the lessons learnt

Under this Task, working with the other Inclusive Urban Innovation Consultant, the Consultant is expected to prepare a “learning diary”, which is structured around the on-spot consultation plans and depicts the process, the untraditional approaches and innovative ideas, the observations, the success and failures, critical lessons learnt, as well as recommendations for its future replication. This document will be a valuable learning tool for local governments interested in scaling up the pilot intervention. The learning diary will not exceed 15 pages and will be written in the languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The learning diary will be approved by UNDP.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered not later than 15 December 2021, with the level of effort not exceeding 3 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

#	Deliverables / Outputs	# of Days per Task	Due Date	Percentage
1.	Conceptualised methods for place-based citizen and private sector engagement in the “re-imagining” of the target public spaces led by the inclusive innovation approach	5	End August 2021	20%
2.	Expert advice and facilitate the implementation of the place-based inclusive consultations provided, summarised ideas sourced by participants and advise how to embed them in the detailed design for transforming the target localities	17	1 November 2021	68%
3.	Developed simple “learning diary” that captures the process, the results and the lessons learnt	3	15 December 2021	12%

Competencies

Corporate Competencies        

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Results-Orientation:

• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

 

Communication:

• Technical writing skills, formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
• Strong communication skills;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Expertise and knowledge in the field of public participation;
• General expertise and knowledge on design and implementation of urban planning;
• Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in social sciences, architecture, urban development or a related field.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in the official languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina is required.
• Knowledge of English is an asset.

Other Requirements:

• Proven previous experience in human-centred and inclusive development processes;
• Knowledge of and previous experience in contemporary social and urban innovation initiatives;
• Experience relying on creative methods to develop innovative solutions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to clearly and transparently disseminate information.
• Knowledge of the local context and regulatory frameworks related to urban planning and public consultations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Criteria:	Points
Relevant Education	max 40 points30 points allocated for BA/BSc degree+ 5 points for MSc/MA+ up to 5 points for PhD
Relevant professional experience	max 50 points
Knowledge of English	max 10 points - will be assessed as:10 points for fluency and the points decrease as per the level mentioned in the CV:good - 7 points;fair/upper intermediate – 5 points;intermediate - 3 points;beginner - 1 point.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria:	Points
Rating based on Qualifications	10%
Proven previous experience in human-centred and inclusive development processes	30%
Knowledge of and previous experience in contemporary social and urban innovation initiatives	30%
Knowledge of the local context and regulatory frameworks related to urban planning and public consultations in Bosnia and Herzegovina	20%
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to clearly and transparently disseminate information.	10%

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, andb) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• A short motivation letter (not exceeding 1 page), which 1) briefly describes the candidate’s motivation to engage; 2) describes the candidate’s knowledge of and concrete experience in social and urban innovation initiatives; 3) describes the candidate’s concrete experience in applying creative methods to develop innovative solutions.
• A methodological proposal (not exceeding 2 pages), which describes some of the potential social and urban innovation approaches that the candidate may consider in the on-spot public consultations.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.