Consultant - Assistive Technology Resources Specialist (Home Based Retainer)

Hosted Entities ATscale
Job categories Health, Programme Management
Vacancy code VA/2024/B5007/28993
Level ICS-10
Department/office GPO, GVA, Geneva
Duty station Home based
Contract type International ICA
Contract level IICA-2
Duration 50 - 100 days
Application period 27-Sep-2024 to 18-Oct-2024


Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.


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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...

The Resource Hub specialist shall utilise their technical knowledge and experien...

Education Advanced degree preferably in health, social science, econom...

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...

Contract type:  Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: ICS 1...

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

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