Today, over 2.5 billion people need at least one form of assistive technology (AT), such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids, but, in low income countries, 90% do not have access to the AT they require. The number of people who need 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 ageing 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 set up in response to the need for a new, catalytic approach to overcoming the significant gap in access to appropriate, high-quality, and affordable AT for people in low-and middle-income countries. 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.

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/

While ATscale is sufficiently funded for its present operations, its current resource base does not match the scale of its ambitions to raise $400 million by 2030.

Mobilizing additional resources is a key priority for 2025 and beyond. The ATscale resource mobilization strategy highlights government, multilateral donors, large foundations and the private sector as potential partners. In order to achieve this objective and create these partnerships, we are seeking a strategic consultant to support the Partnership Development Advisor to research opportunities, coordinate and develop proposals for potential funding opportunities, and support with donor reporting.

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, will constitute an ATscale Expert Partnership Advisory Network (AT-EPAN) with members who have a range of expertise and experience in resource mobilization and partnership engagement directly related to government donors, large foundations, family offices, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and the private sector. The ATscale Partnership Development Advisor will directly manage a roster of persons with technical knowledge, and direct expertise in these domains.

Upon request, the members of the ATscale Expert Partnership Advisory Network (AT-EPAN) may provide direct contacts, make connections, research and identify new funding opportunities, collaborate on concept notes and presentations in an effort to help secure new donor partnerships for ATscale.

With this vacancy announcement, we are seeking expert consultants who have in-depth knowledge, expertise, experience and active, high-level contacts in one or several of the following areas:

• Government ODA and ministries of foreign affairs of countries such as, but not exclusive to: Canada, France, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Sweden, European Commission, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and others
• Regional country offices of donor countries
• Institutional foundations such as, but not exclusive to: Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust , Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Mastercard Foundation
• Philanthropic family offices and working with HNWI donors
• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and other relevant financing agencies such as, but not limited to: World bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and others.
• Public-Private-Partnerships

The incumbents will be offered retainer contracts, i.e. a contract issued for a period of time with an upper limit but no expectation of a minimum number of working days. The workload will depend on the needs of ATscale.

Within their area of expertise, and with an overall goal of to securing funding for ATscale or leveraging funds for assistive technology, the Partnership Advisor, as a member of the ATscale Expert Partnership Advisory Network, may be asked to:

1. Donor Identification and Engagement:

• Identify high-level, active donors: Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with key donors within your network who align with ATscale’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Develop donor profiles: Conduct thorough research to create comprehensive donor profiles, analyzing their funding priorities, trends, and potential funding opportunities.
• Present ATscale to high-level contacts: Articulate ATscale’s vision, mission, and impact with clarity and adaptability, tailoring presentations to resonate with diverse audiences.
• Facilitate introductions and meetings: Arrange and facilitate high-level introductions and meetings between ATscale and relevant contacts within your area of expertise, leveraging your network and influencing decision-makers.

2. Proposal Development and Evaluation:

• Support proposal development: Contribute to the design, development, and improvement of concept notes and proposals for ATscale programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment with donor interests.
• Review and refine proposals: Provide expert input on proposal content, implementation plans, and monitoring frameworks, ensuring technical soundness, viability, and value for money.
• Evaluate proposals: Conduct detailed technical and financial evaluations of proposals, assessing their strategic value, potential impact, and alignment with ATscale’s priorities.
• Apply evaluation criteria: Utilize criteria such as alignment with donor priorities, stakeholder inclusion, financial implications, technical quality, and value for money to assess proposals.

3. Strategic Insights and Resource Mobilization:

• Provide expert insights: Offer informed perspectives on trends, opportunities, and risks related to new partnership engagement and funding opportunities.
• Identify potential collaborators: Proactively identify and recommend potential collaborators for resource mobilization, leveraging your network and expertise.

4. Additional Responsibilities:

• Undertake other directly related duties as required: Contribute to the overall success of ATscale’s resource mobilization efforts by performing other directly related tasks as assigned.
• Travel: Be prepared to travel to attend in-person meetings or in-country reviews, as required

Education

• A University Degree (Masters degree or equivalent) preferably in social science, political science or international relations, media and communication, Journalism, marketing, business, economics, development studies, resource mobilization and international development, or similar subjects
• A Bachelor degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of experience in proposal design, coupled with expertise in partnership development and/or grant management, is required. This experience should be in one or more of the following areas:

• Official Development Assistance (ODA) agencies or Ministries of Foreign Affairs from high income, donor countries
• Large institutional foundations (e.g., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation).
• International Development Banks (IDBs) and multilateral funding institutions.
• Philanthropic family offices and working with HNWI donors
• Blended finance initiatives, impact investment programs and other alternative financing mechanisms.
• Private sector partnerships (PPP, PSP)
• Managing country missions and overseeing regional budgets.
• Experience in international development and/or humanitarian aid and/or working for a UN organization and/or an NGO

The following are considered assets:

• A strong network of active donor contacts
• Familiarity with disability rights and inclusion of disability in projects and programmes, as well as a foundational understanding of the CRPD and other international instruments and relevant frameworks
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Experience in UN system organizations, preferably in a developing country;
• Experience in assistive technology or disability and inclusion sector is desirable

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) – Retainer
Contract level: ICS-11 (IICA 3 / LICA 11)
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

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.
• UNOPS makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please make us aware, we want to ensure you perform at your best.
• People self-identifying as living with a long-term disability are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• UNOPS defines long term disability as a long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. (Article 1, paragraph 2 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)

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.
• 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.