Call for Proposals for the World Smart Cities Outlook

In an age where the convergence of urbanization and digitalization is revolutionising how they design, plan and manage the cities, there is a need to establish guiding principles, values and visions to leverage these twin transitions for a better urban future for all. At the heart of this lies the aspiration to ensure that people remain the focus of these technologically-driven solutions for sustainable urbanization.

The World Smart Cities Outlook will seek to dive deep into the current landscape of smart cities and digitalization across the globe. From exploring prevailing trends, challenges, regional diversity, to uncovering untapped opportunities, the study aspires to be a factual bedrock for the development of the guidelines on smart cities. The aim is to identify key drivers and enablers to build cities that are not only technologically advanced but also sustainable, inclusive, and respectful of human rights.

Scope of the Service

• With the World Smart Cities Outlook, UN-Habitat aims to develop a holistic global assessment that encompasses all relevant dimensions of digital transformation and smart cities, exploring their multifaceted impact on people, systems and the planet. The dimensions expected to be investigated by the study are:
  • Digital transformation and smart cities: examining the integration of digital technologies into urban development and governance, with a focus on their role in enhancing the quality of life for urban residents as well as potential risks resulting from their uncontrolled application.
  • Digital governance, standards, and interoperability: assessing the regulatory frameworks, standards, and interoperability mechanisms governing digital infrastructure and services in smart cities and highlighting the consequences in their absence on urban development, digital rights and prosperity, among others.
  • Community engagement and participation through digital means: analyzing the ways in which digital platforms, apps and technologies can facilitate or limit citizen engagement, participation, and decision-making in urban contexts.
  • Economic development and shared prosperity: investigating economic benefits and opportunities and economic loss from the presence or absence of smart city initiatives and investments, including job creation and economic growth.
  • Digital capacities and readiness: Evaluating efforts and need to build the capacity of governments, organizations, and individuals to effectively navigate the digital transformation of cities. Identifying main bottlenecks to capacity enhancement at institutional and societal levels and their impacts on urban development at large.
  • Sustainable digital transformation and environmental sustainability: scrutinizing the environmental implications and sustainability aspects of digitalization in urban areas.

Funding Information

• Maximum proposed value: Budget ceiling for this call is USD 50,000

What they are Looking for?

• UN-Habitat is looking for a trusted partner to work directly with the Innovation Unit and any other relevant partners for the execution of a comprehensive assessment and report. The candidate organization should possess proven capabilities in the following domains:
  • Experience in undertaking similar research and analytical projects;
  • A proven track record in compiling reports related to the subject matter at stake;
  • Established technical expertise in the fields of innovative technologies, smart urban planning and smart cities, e-governance, transformative processes, urban development, climate sustainability and other relevant fields;
  • Extensive geographical coverage and a nuanced understanding of international, regional, and local market dynamics.

Expected Activities and Outputs

• Workplan and methodological approach
  • Output:
    • Revised workplan with details on activities, timeline and outputs
    • Revised methodological approach following the kick-off meeting and UN-Habitat comments on the proposed methodology
• Desk research and literature review
  • Output
    • Literature review of global existing practices and UN-Habitat and partners’ products
    • Compilation of case studies focusing on key themes and regional examples
• Primary and secondary data collection
  • Output
    • Raw data gathering through data collection software (survey or others) at city level
    • Secondary data collection and revision
    • Data gap identification and approach to fill the gaps
• Experts and cities Interviews
  • Output
    • List of interviewees and interviews plan
    • At least 20 interviews to fill data gaps and collect additional information on case studies/global practices etc.
• Preliminary finding (do you mean first draft?) they should define timelines for first draft; final draft clearly
  • Output
    • Preliminary findings and figures presented at the first Global Expert Group Meeting (EGM)
    • Dissemination of preliminary findings to partners for feedback and comments
    • World Smart Cities Outlook Zero Draft
• World Smart Cities Outlook Final Result (at this point the study should be finalized)
  • Output
    • Results of the World Smart Cities Outlook presented at the second Global EGM
• World Smart Cities Outlook Report
  • Output
    • Publication of the study
    • Database of data collected, interviews, case studies handed over to UN-Habitat

Eligibility Criteria

• Legal status
  • Certificate of registration/incorporation
  • Proof of registration
• Organization profile and details
  • Clear organization profile and structure of the organization indicating:
    • Organization’s vision, mission and objectives
    • Management structure
    • Members of the Governing Board and their Designations
    • Proof of membership to professional associations if any
• Financial capacity
  • Audited company financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) and auditors report for the last two years
• Exclusive bank account
  • Is the organization willing and able to have a separate bank account for the funds provided by UN-Habitat?
• Integrity and governance
  • The organization should complete and submit a signed Partner Declaration Form
  • Provide the profiles of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Head of the Organization and Chief of Finance

For more information, visit UN-Habitat.