Technical Advisor - Eye and Vision Care (Retainer/Multiple hires, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

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. 

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

The need for AT

Worldwide, more than 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics, eyeglasses, or apps that support communication and cognition. By 2050, the number of people in need of assistive technology is projected to rise to 3.5 billion due to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. 

This vast unmet need for assistive technology disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. In low-income countries, only 10% of individuals have access to the AT they need, compared to 90% of those in high-income countries. In some countries, as few as 3% of people have access to the AT they require. 

The situation is not much different for access to vision-related assistive technology. The World Report on Vision (2019) from WHO estimates that at least 1 billion people have a vision impairment that is unaddressed or could have been prevented, with 90% of them living in low- and middle-income countries. The refractive error conditions such as presbyopia, myopia, and hyperopia attributable to the most of the vision impairment can be addressed by providing access to simple assistive technology, i.e., eyeglasses and/or cataract surgery. However, effective coverage for refractive error currently stands at 36%. This stark disparity in access highlights the urgent need to address accessibility gaps and ensure equitable access to assistive technologies worldwide. 

Access to appropriate vision-related AT enables people with loss of function, disabilities, non-communicable diseases, and the aging population to participate in education, work, and family and community life. Lack of access to such 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 leading to a higher burden on health systems. Increasing accessibility and affordability of AT can unlock unrealized economic potential and provide socio-economic benefits for individuals, families, and countries by increasing productivity and participation in the workforce. 

ATscale, has established an Advisory Technical Group managed directly by the ATscale Secretariat. This group consists of technical experts from diverse disciplines relevant to assistive technology, ensuring geographical representation (with a focus on low- and middle-income countries), gender balance, and inclusion of individuals with lived experience using assistive technology.

The Advisory Technical Group provides independent advice on various aspects of ATscale’s work, including priority setting, annual workplans, country engagements, proposals, and global interventions. The group evaluates these areas for strategic value, potential impact, technical soundness, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness, among other considerations.

Through this vacancy announcement, ATscale seeks to expand its roster of experts in the area of assistive technology related to the vision function. 

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

The incumbent 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.

As part of the ATscale Advisory Group, the incumbents will provide strategic and technical advice and make recommendations on:

• Provide independent advice/feedback/comments on ATscale’s strategic priorities, annual work plans, country engagements, and global enablers interventions

• Assist in the setting of priorities in alignment with ATscale’s overall goals and strategy, identification of the gaps, the selection and prioritization of possible areas for interventions or solutions, and the development of ‘living’ sector-wide strategies

• Support the design, development, and improvement of technical documents, projects, and programs related to AT initiatives for vision function, including preparing, reviewing, and refining proposals and implementation plans, monitoring frameworks, strengthening the country, implementing partner capacity in specific thematic areas

• the scoping of possible interventions and the specifications for the scopes of work (TORs, calls/requests for proposals or other forms of inviting potential grantees or service providers to submit proposals) both at the global and country level (e.g. country concept notes, global public goods interventions)

• Participate in the detailed and high-quality technical and financial evaluation of proposals for their strategic value, potential impact, technical soundness, viability, and value for money based on criteria such as, but not limited to:

  • Alignment with ATscale priorities

  • Coordination with existing and planned activities

  • Inclusion of relevant stakeholders (meaningful participation)

  • Programmatic merit

  • Technical quality

• Provide expert insights on trends, opportunities, and risks in the vision-related assistive technology sector.

• Identify and recommend potential collaborators, including developers, innovators, and implementers, to foster AT initiatives related to the vision function.

• Lead or contribute to capacity-building activities such as webinars, workshops, and training sessions for stakeholders.

• Engage in ATscale’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework and its implementation as required. 

• Participate in virtual meetings with wider stakeholders/partners to discuss specific initiatives, strategic discussions or others as relevant and provide recommendations.

• Offer individual consultations and expert advice on topics related to AT for vision through individual meetings as and when required.

• Undertake other related duties as required.

• Travel may be required to attend in-person meetings or in-country reviews.

• The incumbents will be paid a daily wage based on the days worked upon submission of Certificates of Payment (COP).

Education

A minimum of 7 years of combined experience in assistive technology in the areas of Public Health, Non-communicable diseases, eye and vision care, or vision rehabilitation. 

The following are required:

• Demonstrated experience in clinical or programme implementation of Eye and Vision care service delivery in low-resource settings.

• Demonstrated experience in providing technical advice for planning, implementation, and monitoring of assistive technology programmes

• Proven experience in the design, implementation, and scaling of vision-related AT solutions

• Demonstrated knowledge of large-scale health or education or social protection programmes

• Familiarity with global AT markets and stakeholders, particularly in low- and middle-income countries

• Understanding of how cultural, linguistic, and economic factors influence AT adoption and use

• Experience working in low-and middle-income countries or with underserved communities, addressing unique challenges in these contexts

• Familiarity with disability rights and inclusion of disability in projects and programmes, as well as a foundational understanding of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international instruments, frameworks, and tools on Assistive Technology

• Proficiency in technical writing and documentation 

• A strong publication record, with 3–5 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and equivalent research. 

• Proven track record of generating sound evidence coming from rigorous measurement.   

• Experience in international development and/or humanitarian aid and/or working for a UN organization and/or an NGO or private sector in the field of eye and vision care

The following will be considered desirables: 

• Work experience in organizing policy dialogue processes with decision-makers and key stakeholders will be desirable. 

• Familiarity with emerging technologies like AI and wearable devices in the context of assistive solutions would be an advantage. 

• Working with diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, DPOs, CSOs, private tech companies, and healthcare providers, to implement vision-related AT solutions would be an advantage

• Fluency, both written and spoken, in English; 

• Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

• 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.