Technical Advisor - Assistive Technology Policies and Systems (Retainer/Multiple hires, Multiple positions), Multiple positions

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 policy and system, 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 assistive technology sector.

• Identify and recommend potential collaborators with AT stakeholders to strengthen the global AT ecosystem. 

• 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 other relevant matters and provide recommendations.

• Offer individual consultations and expert advice on topics related to AT policy and system 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

• Advanced degree (Masters degree or above), ideally in Public Health, Ophthalmology or Optometry or Audiology or medicine or rehabilitation-related fields (Prosthetics & Orthotics / Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy), Social Science or other relevant disciplines is required.

• A Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Ophthalmology or Optometry or Audiology or medicine or rehabilitation-related fields (Prosthetics & Orthotics / Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy), Social Science, in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

A minimum of 9 years of combined experience in assistive technology in the areas of Public Health, Non-communicable diseases, or health and social services. 

The following are considered as requirements:

• 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 development of AT policy and systems in low-and middle-income countries or in low-resource settings. 

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

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

• Experience of implementing global polices and tools on AT and related rehabilitation services in low-and middle-income countries or in low-resource settings, addressing unique challenges in these contexts

• Working with diverse stakeholders, including governments, I/NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and development partners

• 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

• 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 assistive technology. 

• Work experience in organizing policy dialogue processes with decision makers and key stakeholders 

• Proficiency in technical writing and documentation.

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

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

Following will be considered advantage: 

• Knowledge and familiarity on Health or Education or Social Protection system frameworks 

• Previous work experience in Africa, South-Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America or the Pacific Islands on Assistive Technology.