Technical Advisor - Wheelchairs and Mobility products (Retainer/Multiple hires, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

ATscale and UNOPS

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. The UNOPS office in Geneva is acting as the hosting agency of the Secretariat of ATscale. ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, is a cross-sectoral partnership with a mission to improve people’s lives through assistive technology. Assistive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive products/devices and associated services. ATscale catalyzes action to ensure that, by 2030, an additional 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) get the life-changing assistive technology they need.

For more information, please check the ATscale website: https://atscalepartnership.org. 

The need for AT

Today, over 2.5 billion people need at least one form of AT, such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids, but in some countries as few as 3% have access to the AT they require. The number of people needing AT is expected to grow to more than 3.5 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, and 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 can unlock unrealized economic potential and provide socioeconomic benefits for individuals, families, and countries by increasing productivity and participation in the workforce. Globally, more than 80 million people need an appropriate wheelchair, but, 65-95% of those in need don’t have access. Wheelchairs are one of the most commonly used assistive devices. The need for wheelchairs will only continue to grow globally, especially in LMICs. This is due to many reasons, including the world’s ageing population, as well as increasing rates of injury and noncommunicable diseases.

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, has constituted an Advisory Technical Group, managed directly by the ATscale secretariat. The Advisory Technical Group includes a roster of technical experts with knowledge, expertise and experience from the broad range of disciplines relevant to assistive technology; ensuring geographical representation with an emphasis on low- and middle-income countries; gender balance; and, persons with a lived experience of using assistive technology. 

The Advisory Technical Group provides independent advice on issues and documents pertaining to ATscale’s work, such as for its priority setting, annual work plan, country engagements and global goods interventions with respect to the strategic value and potential impact, programmatic merit (such as technical soundness, viability, value for money), and possibly other aspects.

With this Vacancy Announcement, ATscale seeks to expand the Advisory Technical Group expert roster in the area of wheelchairs, and other mobility products. 

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

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.

• the setting of priorities in alignment with ATscale’s overall goals and strategy, including the selection and prioritisation of possible areas for intervention

• the identification of gaps and possible solutions to address them in activities / efforts in the AT sector

• the development of ‘living’ sector-wide strategies

• strengthening of country implementing partner capacity on specific thematic areas

• the development of ATscale’s annual work plan

• 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)

• organisation of and participation to consultative meetings with other specialised organisation in the domain of intervention 

• participation in the substantive, systematic, rigorous, detailed and high-quality technical and financial evaluation of proposals received against criteria such as

  • alignment with the priorities of ATscale

  • coordination with existing and planned activities

  • inclusion of relevant stakeholders (meaningful participation)

  • programmatic merit

  • technical quality

• ATscale’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework and its implementation

• Technical review and technical endorsement of implementing partners’ reports and other guidances produced in the frame of ATscale work plan

• 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 days worked upon submissions of Certificates of Payment (COP).

Education

• Advanced degree (Masters degree or above) in the field of rehabilitation (i.e. physiotherapy, occupational therapy, prosthetics & orthotics, rehabilitation medicine, others), or other advanced degree in a related field (e.g. engineer in wheelchair or other mobility products) is required.

• A Bachelor's degree in the above field or in a related field, in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

A minimum of 7 years of combined experience in assistive technology in the areas of Public Health, Non-communicable diseases, rehabilitation, disability or related fields. 

The following are considered requirements:

• Proven track record of working in the wheelchair and other mobility related assistive products policies and services especially in low-middle income countries. 

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

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

• Proven track record in rehabilitation services and disability sector especially in low resource settings. 

• Specific experience engaging with government stakeholders as well as with national and international organizations in LMICs is essential, demonstrated through past experience in LMIC 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 and relevant frameworks on Wheelchairs and other assistive products. 

• Proficiency in technical writing and documentation

• Experience in international development and/or humanitarian aid and/or working for a UN organisation and/or an NGO in the field of rehabilitation. 

• A strong publication record, with 3–5 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals or equivalent research outputs on Assistive Technology. 

Following will be considered desirables: 

• Proven track-record of data collection, data management, quantitative and qualitative analysis and outcome reporting. 

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

• 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.