INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems. ITU also organizes global Telecom events bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the private sector to exchange ideas and knowledge for the benefit of all.
Roster - Strategic Foresight Consultant
Vacancy notice no: 2024
Sector: BDT
Department: DKS
Country of contract: Remote
Duty station: Home Based
Position number: [[positionNumber]]
Grade: [[PositionGrade]]
Type of contract: Consultant
Duration of contract: Various assignments
Recruitment open to: External
Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 30 June 2025
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT
The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector of the Union. BDT deals mainly with development policies, strategies, programming, projects, as well as technical cooperation activities to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure telecommunications/ICTs and Foster equitable and inclusive use of telecommunications/ICTs to empower people and societies for sustainable development. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of Member States, BDT is organized into four functional areas:
- Operations Coordination Department (Office of the Deputy to the Director) (DDR)
- Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skills Department (PPS)
- Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE)
- Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS)
The Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS) provides expertise in the areas of Regulatory and Market environments, promoting experiences sharing and collaboration. It also has the responsibility for the international statistics standards for telecommunication/ICT indicators and compiles and disseminates valuable ICT Statistics which provide the basis for sound public policy decisions. This Department promotes innovation culture and projects to the Member States. The DKS Department leads and coordinates innovation throughout the BDT. This Department also ensures the active participation of youth and the need to guaranteeing accessibility and inclusion for all and promoting reinforcement for gender issues.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As part of the BDT implementation strategy, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development offers a new approach to bridge the Digital Innovation Divide and empower ITU-D membership to overcome challenges on their path through digital transformation, unlock their digital potential, build local capabilities in innovation and entrepreneurship, and accelerate their ecosystems’ impact on cross-cutting sectors for an inclusive and sustainable society. The Alliance will enable transformational projects fostering digital innovation and entrepreneurship for national, regional and global impact.
The Alliance will fast-track key strategic objectives to accelerate countries’ journey towards an innovation-driven digital economy, including one on strategic foresight. The ITU has created a comprehensive foresight playbook designed to align with the work of the Alliance. This playbook serves as a step-by-step guide for conducting effective foresight research. It utilizes a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as research and co-creation, all grounded in human-centric and ecosystem-centric approaches.
This vacancy seeks to establish an ITU roster of foresight consultants with relevant experience in strategic foresight who can utilize the ITU foresight methodology to conduct foresight research for the Membership.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The consultant will:
- Conduct in-depth research and analysis to support the end-to-end delivery of strategic foresight projects. This involves leveraging ITU foresight methodologies and engaging relevant ecosystems stakeholders to generate robust insights.
- Use defined foresight techniques and effectively apply them in research, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation activities, including use of virtual board Miro in the process.
- Engage and collaborate with ITU stakeholders and partners to facilitate knowledge exchange, gather insights, and align foresight studies with project objective and national priorities.
- Plan, organize, and facilitate national and inter-regional foresight workshops both virtual and in-person to support the identified foresight topics and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration.
- Lead the end-to-end research, writing, and reporting process, ensuring alignment with the ITU-provided frameworks and formats.
- Engage regularly with ITU team members to gather feedback on progress made to ensure the foresight report is high-quality, relevant, and aligned with national goals and ecosystem needs.
- Support the content development and facilitation of co-creation workshops designed to enhance stakeholder engagement, develop the foresight studies, and further improve ITU’s playbook on strategic foresight.
CONCRETE DELIVERABLES
- Monthly reports detailing progress on ToR, and key milestones achieved.
- A comprehensive Strategic Foresight report.
- A summary deck for each report, providing key findings and actionable recommendations.
- Specific deliverables will be defined according to the Terms of Reference to be established for each specific requirement and may vary depending on the context and priorities of the project and programme.
COMPETENCIES
- Complexity Science: Ability to apply relevant ecosystem stakeholders' opinions, conduct interviews, and use participatory methods to understand the connections between actors and trends, as well as mapping interdependencies and future states within complex systems.
- Framing and Scanning: Ability to use structured methodologies such as STEEPLE, Delphi, horizon scanning and fringe scanning to identify weak signals, emerging trends, and megatrends.
- Mapping: Ability to map drivers, axis of uncertainty, and their implications.
- Visioning: Ability to develop both inductive and deductive scenarios, utilizing wind tunneling, and effectively communicate these scenarios and their implications through methods such as future wheels, storytelling and other methods.
- Transforming: Ability to create roadmaps and plans using techniques such as scenario immersion, backcasting, and technology planning.
- Virtual board: Ability to use a virtual board such as Miro to co-create and co-design with stakeholders.
- Proven ability to develop and implement projects to achieve measurable outcomes in digital ecosystems.
- Strong research skills to gather, synthesis, and interpret data from various sources, with familiarity with a range of foresight methodologies and tools.
- Familiarity with the ITU methodology on Strategic Foresight will be an advantage.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education:
University degree in economics, political or social science, telecommunications, business development, human resources etc. or a related field or education from a reputed college of advanced education with a diploma equivalent to a university degree in the field relevant to the Special Service Agreement (SSA). An advanced degree will be an advantage.
Experience:
At least five (5) years of experience of leading or contributing to foresight projects, research studies or related initiatives.
Languages:
Knowledge of English at advanced level.
REMUNERATION INFORMATION
Between USD 230 and USD 430 per working day to be defined according to the work experience of the consultant.
INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU career website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account - @itu.int - should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU.
