Intern (ATscale)

The ATscale Partnership

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, is seeking an intern to join its team in assisting with a wide range of daily operations and first catalytic initiatives of its initial strategic phase. This new role provides a unique opportunity to be a part of the team that is building and moving forward a multi-stakeholder partnership to address one of the most significant and most underinvested issues of our global development agenda – the need for assistive technology (AT). 

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 who need AT is expected to grow to more than 3.4 billion people 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 labor 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 of which lead to a higher burden on health systems. Increasing accessibility and affordability of AT unlocks unrealised 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 with the goal of reaching 500 million more people with life-changing assistive technology (AT) by 2030, to enable a lifetime of potential. 

The secretariat of the ATscale Partnership is hosted by UNOPS and it is located in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information please visit https://atscalepartnership.org/ .

The Intern will work as part of the ATscale team. S/he will assist the ATscale team with developing, implementing, and monitoring the global and country-based strategies and activities of the ATscale Partnership, as well as contribute to global knowledge-sharing. 

Under the overall guidance of the Senior Programme Officer(s), the Intern will be responsible for the following:

• Undertake research and analysis on specific assigned topics in relation to the key elements of the ATscale Partnership; 

• Provide inputs to the plans, activities and  strategy from an AT user view;

• Support the collection of information, writing and editing of a range of print and online content on key areas related to the ATscale Partnership: project documents, presentations, articles, information sheets, progress reports and key messages, as appropriate; 

• Assist the ATscale Partnership team’s related mission/meeting preparations and follow-up, with a focus on the relevant partner countries; 

• Support the Advocacy and Communications Advisor to implement the digital communications strategy, partner outreach, and resource mobilization; 

• Share knowledge with the wider ATscale Partnership through distilling lessons learnt and other insights gained from research and programme interaction; 

• Perform any other professional work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the CEO, Senior Programme Officer or other team members.

a. Education 

• Completion of secondary school or equivalent is required

• Applicants should be enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor, Master or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship. 

• The preferred candidate would have a degree or be enrolled in a programme in public health, economics, public policy, communications, development, business administration or in any other related areas that could bring value to work in a disability focused organization.  

b. Experience 

• The candidates should have some experience (volunteer or paid) in or exposure to the disability space and preferably also in AT.

• Additional experience in areas such as administration, communications, project support, public health, research or development, is an advantage.

c. Additional requirements and considerations 

• All candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter along with their application

• People self-identifying as living with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants are invited to include such information in their cover letter

• 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, please make us aware by sending an email to info@atscalepartnership.org
  We want to ensure you perform at your best. 

• UNOPS defines disability as a long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others

Contract type: Internship
Contract level: N/A
Contract duration: 2 months to 1 year, to be agreed with selected candidate

Interns should confirm that they are fit specifically for the duty station conditions, as certified by a medical practitioner. The Interns are responsible for receiving clearance from a medical doctor to travel and perform this internship. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.