Pioneer Role Specification 

‘Pioneer’ is the name used in the Frontier Technologies Programme for the FCDO proposer or co-proposer of a Pilot, it is the person who submits the application. The Pioneer(s) is central to the pilot, it is their vision that shapes its goals and ensures what is learnt is relevant to, and can be integrated into, the work of FCDO.  

 To be a pioneer, you don’t need to be an expert in tech, you just need to have an idea for trialling use of a frontier tech in your area (geographical or thematic) of work, and a desire to champion a pilot for 12-15 months.

You can apply with or without an implementing partner, either way we will support you to explore the problem you want to tackle.

⚡The Frontier Tech Hub enables FCDO to invest in early-stage ideas and radical technology solutions, build capacity to develop, use and govern technology responsibly and support locally-led innovation.

🚀 We work with FCDO colleagues to fund, test and scale frontier technologies worldwide, by calling for ideas to test frontier technologies in the real world.

🌍 Since 2016 we have worked with 95+ FCDO staff on 75 ideas across 32 countries.

Commitments of the Pioneer 

The Frontier Technologies Programme is flexible to the Pioneer’s work demands – though our experience shows that the more engaged a Pioneer is, the more they get out of the pilot, and the more likely a pilot is to deliver learning of value to you, FCDO and the sector. It also helps if the pilot is of interest to the Pioneer’s FCDO team and the application has the support of their manager.  

It should be possible for a Pioneer to support a pilot alongside their normal duties, and the Frontier Tech Hub will undertake all work around contract management and fund dispersal as well as leading the team through the innovation methodology. We would expect a Pioneer to be an active team member.   

At a minimum a pioneer would be expected to: 

  • Join a fortnightly 1-hour coaching call throughout the duration of the pilot. 

  • Participate in around 2 hours of sprint planning and review sessions at the end of each sprint (the number of sprints in a pilot varies, around 3-5 is typical). 

  • Provide a rationale to the programme’s SRO to single-source any tech or implementation partners and/or reviewing applications for potential partners sourced through a tender. 

  • Review a blog post per sprint and the Pilot Report at the end of the pilot (written by the implementing partner and the FT Hub respectively).  

  • Join around 3 hours of workshops at the inception of the pilot, and a 1.5 hour review session at the closure of the pilot.  

Pilots have also benefited from Pioneers: 

  • Providing insights and links to relevant contacts within FCDO.  

  • Speaking at relevant conferences, FCDO events etc. when it supports pilot delivery. 

  • Attending or otherwise supporting field visits or trials where possible and if relevant. 

In addition, Pioneers are encouraged to participate in 'The Frontier Tech Launchpad’. This brings the cohort of Pioneers together in a series of practical sessions facilitated by the Hub across 8 stages, covering topics ranging from innovation methodologies to impactful storytelling.

Support from the FT Hub

Each pilot will receive the following support from the FT Hub: 

  • Coaching on our innovation methodology, working through sprints and experiments. 

  • Guidance on capturing ‘best fit’ learning and evidence from the pilot. 

  • Contract & fund management. 

  • Procurement of implementing partners or independent technical experts. 

This support will be shepherded by a pair of experts assigned to each pilot. They will remain in regular communication with the pilot team throughout the pilot lifecycle.

The Pilot Charter 

To clarify the expectation and commitment of all parties, the Pioneer, implementing partner, and Hub coaches, a ‘Pilot Charter’ is agreed at the inception of the pilot, this covers three areas: 

  • Ways of working: Conducting pilot using an agile framework and sprint methodology (short parcels of work with review) 

  • Learning out Loud: Sharing learnings with FCDO at the end of every sprint, and planning following phase of work in response to these. 

  • Coaching: Making use of coaching call, and from the Coaches a commitment to provide coaching, be invested in the success of the pilot and actively and honestly support.

Leaving a Pilot

When a Pioneer is leaving their position or otherwise no longer able to support the pilot, they may find a replacement from their FCDO team/office and work with the Hub team to onboard them in line with programme guidance. If this is not possible, but the pilot is judged to merit continuation, it may be overseen by the programme SRO. Otherwise, it may be discontinued.

"Being part of this incredible group at the Frontier Tech Hub has been a privilege. For millennials like me, working on issues with real meaning and impact is crucial. Here, using awesome frontier technologies to solve development challenges especially for small and medium cocoa producers provided me with exactly that – a sense of purpose and the knowledge that together, we were making a difference."

Alfonso Escolar González, Pioneer for ‘Integrating satellite and ground big data to improve cocoa production’, Colombia