This procurement concerns the engagement of one or two experts to support the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines in strengthening smart city implementation capacity, data-driven urban governance, and institutional coordination through practical pilot implementation, technical advisory support, and embedded capacity building.

The assignment will be implemented as an on-site secondment in the Philippines, with a maximum duration of 130 person-days over approximately six months, of which up to 30% may be delivered remotely. It may be delivered by one expert or two complementary experts and may additionally include organisational backstopping support from the experts’ home organisation. The estimated start of the assignment is Mid-September 2026.

HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd implements this procurement on behalf of the Finnish Digital and Green Transition (FDGT) project. Through FDGT, HAUS mobilises Finnish expertise to support the digital development of public institutions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through targeted expert secondments. These assignments provide a practical platform for applying Finnish know-how in international public-sector contexts while building professional networks and institutional partnerships with local stakeholders. Finnish experts may represent public sector organisations, private sector entities (from individual entrepreneurs to larger firms), or civil society organisations.

The assignment takes place in a context where the Philippines is advancing digital transformation, smart governance, and sustainable urban development while responding to rapid urbanisation, climate vulnerability, fragmented data ecosystems, and evolving digital governance needs. DOST, through its Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP), is strengthening efforts to support data-driven governance, connected technologies, and innovation-led approaches to urban management and public service delivery. In parallel, the EU Digital Economy Package (DEP) is expected to commence in the Philippines in 2026, creating additional momentum for digital cooperation. The secondment will support alignment with relevant DEP priorities, particularly interoperability, digital public services, and human-centred digital transformation.

The secondment offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to practical smart city implementation within one of the Philippines’ leading science and technology institutions. The work focuses on real-world pilot implementation rather than high-level strategy development and includes areas such as interoperable urban data approaches, geospatial and analytics-enabled governance, operational workflows, citizen-centred digital governance models, and institutional coordination mechanisms linked to smart city delivery. The assignment also provides exposure to an evolving digital cooperation landscape and creates opportunities for longer-term institutional collaboration and future engagement between Philippine stakeholders and Finnish organisations.

The contract for the assignment will be concluded between the tendering Finnish organisation and HAUS. HAUS handles the contracts and payments for the assignment, and the main assignment-related cost - including expert remuneration, flights, accommodation, and daily allowances - are covered under the agreed contractual arrangements. The host organisation, DOST, is the Philippine government’s lead institution for science, technology, and innovation, providing a credible institutional environment, strong ownership, and high operational relevance for the assignment.

A more detailed description of the procurement is provided in Annex 1 (ToR).