ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology

Today, over 2.5 billion people need at least one form of AT, such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids, but 90% do not have access to the AT they require. The number of people needing AT is expected to grow to more than 3.4 billion by 2050.

Access to appropriate AT enables people with loss of function, disabilities, non-communicable diseases, and the aging population to participate in education, work, family, and community life. Lack of access to AT has significant consequences for individuals, their families, and the wider society. Without AT, individuals may experience isolation and exclusion from education, the labour market, and civic life. Lack of access to appropriate AT causes poorer health outcomes, including premature death, deteriorating mental health, and increased risk of chronic health conditions and secondary complications, all leading to a higher burden on health systems. Increasing accessibility and affordability of AT unlocks unrealized economic potential and provides socioeconomic benefit for individuals, families, and countries by increasing productivity and participation in the workforce.

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, was developed in response to the need for a new, catalytic approach to overcoming the significant gap in access to appropriate, high-quality, and affordable AT globally. It is a cross-sector partnership for AT that aims to bring greater resources and strategic focus to this significant global challenge to reach 500 million more people with life-changing assistive technology (AT) by 2030, to enable a lifetime of potential. To reach this goal, ATscale has three mutually reinforcing strategic objectives: a) to raise awareness, grow political will, and mobilise investment; b) to strengthen policy, systems, and service delivery at country level to increase access to high-quality, affordable AT; and c) invest in interventions to overcome supply and demand-side market barriers to build and shape AT markets.

The ATscale Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, please visit https://atscalepartnership.org/

Rationale for the AT Resource Hub

A major need in the AT sector is the centralization of high quality, relevant resources. Currently, guidelines, training modules, and toolkits related to AT are dispersed across various organisation and platforms. This fragmentation makes it difficult for stakeholders, including policy makers, practitioners, service providers and AT users to access and utilise the materials in an efficient and effective manner and benefit from partners’ experiences and lessons learnt while designing and implementing programmes that promote access to assistive technology. By consolidating these resources into a single, accessible centralised platform, the use of resources utilisation can be significantly enhanced. By also developing a comprehensive mapping of actors and the countries where they are active, the resource hub will offer a comprehensive view of the overall AT landscape. This mapping will be critical for identifying synergies, avoiding duplication of efforts, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Overall, the resource hub will complement existing initiatives by various players in the area of AT. It will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building. By organising resources by domain and provision cycle (or by other relevant criterias), users will easily find and access and use materials relevant to their specific needs.

At the country level, the resource hub will be a vital tool for supporting country-level implementation of AT related programmes, policies and practices. By bringing together resources created by multilateral agencies and trusted partners, the hub will ensure that countries have the necessary tools to implement effective AT programmes/services.

The development of the AT resource hub will be a critical initiative that addresses multiple needs within the AT sector. By centralising resources, ensuring quality and being up-to-date, complementing existing initiatives, facilitating knowledge sharing, and enhancing policy and practice, the hub will be a valuable asset for AT initiatives at all levels. ATscale’s efforts to create and maintain this platform is expected to significantly contribute to increasing access to assistive technology worldwide.

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology supports the production of Global Public Goods (GPGs) for the assistive technology sector in the form of tools, guidance, and evidence that are globally relevant and applicable for national policy and implementation in countries. As part of the GPG strategic domain “Build Capacity and participation” ATscale aims to develop and internally manage a Resource Hub on assistive technology. The Resource Hub, an online platform, will centralise available key resources, knowledge and ecosystem information on assistive technology to support ATscale stakeholders in LMICs, in particular implementing partners and government.

ATscale seeks an expert for the development of the AT Resource Hub which will be structured under two components:

1. Repository of AT resources: bringing together what multilateral agencies and other trusted partners have created to guide policy and practice around assistive technology in one place. This repository of resources will include guidelines, training modules, toolkits etc, organized in a logical structure, contributing to their dissemination and use to country support work.
2. Mapping of actors, fundings, programmes in the AT sector and the countries where they are active to bring clarity of AT efforts globally, enhancing partnership, complementarity of AT programmes and experience sharing among AT actors.

The development of the AT Resource Hub will follow 3 phases: Phase I : planning; phase II: collection and mapping; and phase III: web development. The AT Resource Specialist will be directly responsible for the tasks under phase I and II and collaborating with the Web developer consultant under phase III.

The Resource Hub specialist shall utilise their technical knowledge and experience to suggest the approach/concept and kick start the content development of the Resource Hub. The consultant’s task will include but not be limited to:

Phase I-Planning phase:

Over the first three weeks of this assignment, the consultant is expected to develop the draft AT Resource Hub work plan. This plan should outline the phases, timelines, key milestones, relevant stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities, consultation plans with stakeholders, and a schedule for timely reporting. Additionally, the consultant should coordinate with ATscale on the development of the AT Resource Hub following the functional responsibilities described above.

Strengthen the overall plan for the Resource Hub already pre-defined by ATscale, including its content development in close cooperation with the M&E Specialist:

1. Review existing similar initiatives from other actors for alignment and complementary of approaches
2. Carry out a mapping of all the stakeholders in the area of AT and related and develop a draft list of the key partners/stakeholders including relevant AT experts to be consulted in the Resource Hub development
3. Provide technical recommendations on a set of predefined criteria to be used for ensuring accuracy, relevance, quality, availability, accessibility of the materials collected under the first component to be integrated in the Resource Hub. Each of the proposed criteria should be backed with rational and logic.
4. Support the identification of the level of information and data, as well as their criteria, to be integrated to the Resources Hub as part of the second component: actors, fundings and programmes related to the AT sector and the countries where they are active
5. Support the development of an initial draft standard operating procedure (SoP) highlighting ATscale’s long term strategy for the Resource Hub

The consultant will proceed to the second phase of the functional responsibilities, which includes the following tasks, only after ATscale has confirmed the successful completion of all tasks from Phase I:

Phase II: Collection and mapping of resources, information and stakeholders related to AT

First component – AT resources repository:

1. Identify, assess and compile existing resources related to AT, such guidelines, training modules, toolkits, templates and other relevant materials for integration in the platform.
2. Support the identification of relevant criteria for categorization which will help users find what is useful to them. These could be domains/functions, material type, place in the cycle of provision of AT (such as assessment, fitting etc)
3. Support the categorisation of the materials collected according to these criteria, e.g. in a spreadsheet

Second component – AT ecosystem mapping:

1. Based on a preliminary list of partners provided by ATscale, research key actors and collect, review and quality assure data about them and programmes related to the AT sector along with the countries where they are active, and (where possible) funding and funding sources
2. Organize the data collected on the AT ecosystem e.g. in a spreadsheet

Throughout the development of these two components, the consultant needs to:

1.Support ATscale to identify relevant partners (multilateral agencies and other trusted partners) and support the development of partnerships needed for the Resource Hub development

2. Contribute to the evaluation of the quality, relevance and currency of resources and AT data collected to ensure high standards as per the predefined criteria approved in the first phase

3. Offer technical recommendations for the definition of a logic organisation and structure of the resource and AT information collected to ensure an easy understanding and access for users once developed for the web (phase III), such as envisioning an interactive map or database, other relevant visuals or features, etc.

4. Assist in the finalization of the standard operating procedure (SoP) initial draft started at phase I, highlighting ATscale’s long term strategy for the Resource Hub. The SOPs will ensure the platform is regularly updated in a timely manner and relevant to support ATscale stakeholders. The SoP will be used during the review and update the resources and information available on the hub including relevance of the platform.

5. Undertake other related duties as required.

On approval of the phase II, the consultant will proceed to deliver the third phase of the functional responsibilities

Phase III: Collaborate with the web development team/consultant to:

1. Advise the M&E Specialist on alignment between the SOPs developed under Phase II and the the Resource Hub platform development as undertaken by an IT contractor
2. AT resources, information and data are structured and organized as defined under phase II

Monitoring and Progress Control

The ATscale Resource Hub specialist will be paid a daily wage based on days worked upon submissions of Certificates of Payment (COP).

Education

• Advanced degree preferably in health, social science, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, management, or another related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in assistive technology in any of the following:
  • assistive technology research, development, and innovation;
  • assistive technology policy and program development at the global, regional, or national level
  • assistive technology or health technology assessment, standards and regulation;
  • assistive technology service provision;
  • assistive technology production or procurement;
  • assistive technology user experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the assistive technology (AT) sector, AT actors, AT fundings and AT programmes is required

• Experience working with multiple stakeholders (UN agencies, iNGOs, government, etc) from AT sector and/or rehabilitation sector is an asset

• Demonstrated skills in knowledge management, learning, identification of good practices in health, education and/or social protection programmes is an asset

• Experience in information management: collecting and organising information from different sources is an asset

• Familiarity with disability rights and inclusion of disability in projects and programs, as well as a foundational understanding of the CRPD and other international instruments and relevant frameworks is an asset

Language

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.

• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language (French and/or Spanish), is an asset

ATscale values diversity and particularly encourages candidates with a lived experience of disability and/or using assistive technology to apply.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: ICS 10 (LICA 10 or IICA 2 )
Contract duration: Short Term – 50 to 100 working days

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
As per UNOPS policy, in duty stations where the NPO (National Professional Officer) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a home-based contract may be issued as a Local ICA Specialist position.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
• ATscale aims to attract users of Assistive Technology (AT users) as part of the Secretariat team. For the purposes of this job description, “AT user” refers to someone who currently requires the use of assistive technology – assistive products and/or associated services – to be able to operate in a professional working environment. Assistive devices include but are not limited to wheelchairs, prosthesis, hearing aids, augmentative and alternative communication devices, etc.
• This position is a Retainer role

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.