Results for Development (R4D) is partnering with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to help deliver the Technology Community of Expertise — a new initiative that provides rapid, demand-driven technical expertise to help partner countries advance their technology priorities. The Technology Community of Expertise (TCoE) is part of the UK Government’s broader Communities of Expertise model, which responds to country needs and priorities and connects partner countries with UK and global science and technology expertise.
Through a flexible Helpdesk model, the TCoE provides rapid, demand-driven technical support to support inclusive, sustainable and responsible technological transformation. The TCoE Helpdesk offers short-term technical assistance across a range of thematic areas, including artificial intelligence, digital governance, digital public infrastructure, cyber resilience, climate, engineering biology, technology ecosystem development, and the responsible and inclusive use of technology.
The Helpdesk model — which Results for Development pioneered — is designed to provide flexible and responsive support tailored to country needs. Drawing on a combination of independent specialists and institutional partners from the UK and globally, the TCoE can rapidly mobilise technical expertise with both sectoral and contextual knowledge relevant to country priorities and emerging opportunities. The TCoE helps translate expertise and evidence into actionable support for development objectives, including supporting policy development, capacity building and strengthening institutions, and enabling longer-terms systems change.
During its pilot phase (January – March 2026), the TCoE Helpdesk provided support for initiatives related to AI ecosystem mapping, innovation cluster development, and digital health and AI landscape analysis, demonstrating the value of rapid access to specialist expertise and building the foundations for future partnerships.
Building on the pilot phase, the TCoE is now expanding its support across a broader range of countries and thematic areas (see below) through March 2027. The model is intended to support more connected, responsive, and collaborative approaches to science and technology engagement across the FCDO network.
Thematic Areas:
- AI, digital, data & tech governance
- Addressing the gender digital divide & standards
- Tech start-up sector growth
- Accessible, responsible, ethical & inclusive use of technology
- Engineering biology
- Digital public infrastructure
- Environment & climate
- Cyber-resilience and space
R4D is proud to partner with FCDO on the delivery of the Tech Community of Expertise and help connect partner countries with expertise and practical support that contributes to inclusive, sustainable and responsible technological transformation and development outcomes.
