Technical Advisor - Financing for Assistive Technology (Retainer/Multiple hires, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

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

Worldwide, more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics, eyeglasses or apps that support communication and cognition. This number is set to rise to 3.5 billion by 2050 due to an ageing population and the rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The large and unmet need for assistive technology worldwide disproportionately affects those who are poor and vulnerable. In low-income countries, only 10% of people have the AT they need, in stark contrast to 90% of people in need in high-income countries who do. Access to appropriate assistive technology enables persons with a loss of function, impairments, noncommunicable diseases, and the ageing population to participate in education, work, family, and community life. Lack of access to appropriate assistive technology 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 assistive technology unlocks unrealised economic potential and provides socioeconomic benefits for individuals, families, and countries.

The challenges of domestic financing of AT in LMICs

A key challenge in access to assistive technology in LMICs is the lack of adequate, predictable and stable public funds dedicated to national assistive technology programmes. Public financial resources are always scarce and with the multiple ongoing crises, the fiscal space is expected to shrink further, particularly funds for public health. In most countries assistive technology programmes are relatively new or neglected areas and often excluded from Universal Health Coverage programmes. Assistive technology programmes are inherently costly and policymakers in LMICs may not have knowledge or experience in AT financing. The key cost drivers are the high degree of technical requirements, relatively high degree of supplier concentration especially in the ‘global north’, and the high need for product customization. For AT users, unaffordability of AT is one of the key hurdles that limit their access. The purchasing power of persons in need is usually lower than the rest of the population, while the lifetime cost of procuring assistive technology and related services is significant. In LMICs, the public sector support may be limited and often very complex to access. Out-of-pocket health spending can become a financial barrier to accessing products and services and can push users and their families into a cycle of financial hardship and poverty. There is limited and fragmented evidence available on domestic financing strategies particularly for AT.

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 Financing for Assistive Technology.

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.

To deliver high-quality, on-demand expertise in financing for assistive technology across the following areas as needed.

• Provide independent, strategic and technical advice on AT financing related issues across all ATscale initiatives, incl. strategic priorities, annual workplans, country engagements, and global goods interventions.

• Lead conceptualization, scoping and development of potential interventions, including preparing concept notes for resource mobilization, terms of reference (TORs), calls for proposals, and other forms of documents for inviting potential grantees or service providers to submit proposals both at the global and country levels (e.g., country concept notes, global public goods interventions).

• Provide strategic advice to senior level stakeholders incl. in government, region or global levels, incl. support the design, development, and improvement of programmes, projects, technical documents related to financing for AT initiatives, including preparing, reviewing, and refining proposals, implementation plans, and monitoring frameworks.

• 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 financing for the assistive technology sector.

• Identify and recommend potential collaborators with financing stakeholders to strengthen the national and global financing for AT. 

• Lead, convene or contribute to high-level technical and political events to facilitate agenda setting for this area of work, incl. 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 through individual meetings as and when required on AT financing topics.

• 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).

• An Advanced University Degree (Masters degree or equivalent) preferably in health financing, health economics, economics, public health, public administration, business administration, or related) or equivalent with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience is required.

• A First-level University Degree (Bachelors/Undergraduate degree or equivalent) preferably  in health financing, health economics, economics, public health, public administration, business administration, or related) or equivalent  with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

The following are considered as requirements:

• A minimum of 10 years (depending on the degree level) of progressively responsible experience in conducting policy analysis, literature review, producing policy recommendations and reports and other material relevant to project design, preferably on the relevant topic. 

• Demonstrated experience as thought leader in health financing reform and demonstrated professional networks in the topic. 

• Specific experience in advising senior level  engaging with government stakeholders in LMICs is essential, demonstrated through past experience in LMIC contexts

• Demonstrated professional networks in health financing with previous experience in engaging and convening technical experts 

• Work experience in convening and leading policy dialogue processes with decision makers and key stakeholders at the global, regional and national levels 

• Proficiency in technical writing and documentation

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

Following will be considered desirable: 

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

• Experience presenting at high-level events and strong communication skills, demonstrated through relevant past experiences 

• Experience in managing research projects, demonstrated through relevant past experiences 

• 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.