Programme Intern(Assistive Technology)

Background Information - Job-specific

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology is a cross-sectoral partnership with the goal of reaching 500 million additional people with assistive technology by 2030 to support them in participating in education, work, and everyday life.

Today, over 2.5 billion people need at least one form of assistive technology (AT), such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids, but in some countries as little as 3% have access to the assistive technology they require. The number of people who need assistive technology is expected to grow to more than 3.5 billion people by 2050.

Access to appropriate assistive technology enables persons with a loss of function, impairments, non-communicable diseases, and the aging population to participate in education, work, family, and community life. Lack of access to assistive technology has significant consequences for individuals, their families, and the wider society. Without assistive technology, individuals may experience isolation and exclusion from education, the labour market, and civic 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 benefit for individuals, families, and countries by increasing productivity and participation in the workforce.

ATscale 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 assistive technology globally. As a cross-sector partnership for assistive technology, ATscale aims to bring greater resources and strategic focus to this significant global challenge. ATscale has two strategic objectives: 1) to develop an enabling ecosystem for increased access to AT by galvanizing political will, mobilizing investment, driving policy reform, and strengthening targeted, cross-product systems, particularly at country level; and 2) to build and shape markets for priority products and their related services by identifying and investing in interventions to overcome specific supply and demand-side market barriers. 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/


Role of the Programme Intern (Assistive Technology)

The intern will be part of the ATscale secretariat. S/he will assist the ATscale programme team in the implementation of ATscale’s strategy to strengthen increased access to assistive technology (AT), with a particular focus on country-based interventions and support global level interventions that create a stronger enabling system and market for low and middle income countries.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Global Programme, the Intern will:

Provide support in country assessments and formulations of the ATscale country assistance strategies through desk reviews, evidence review and review of similar reports;

Provide support in conceptualization of the global level interventions through desk analyses and internal consultations;

Assist the Senior Programme Managers (SPMs) in undertaking research and analysis on specific assigned topics in relation to the key elements of the ATscale;

Assist SPMs and provide support in drafting. writing and editing a range of content on key areas related to the ATscale: project documents, background notes, presentations, articles, information sheets, newsletters, progress reports and key messages, as appropriate;

Contribute to the development of ATscale guidance materials such as manuals and procedures concerned with country support activities;

Assist the ATscale programme team’s related mission/meeting/events preparations communication, and follow-up, with a focus on the partner countries;

Maintain database to support the ATscale programme team in tracking and monitoring progress with country programmes

Support programme team in ongoing market building and shaping interventions, including conducting research, design regular maintaining online AT market platform;

Assist in documenting and analyzing information from, policy briefs, reports, academic journals and news articles relevant to the ATscale and its partner countries;

Share knowledge with the wider ATscale secretariat through distilling lessons learnt and other insights gained from research and programme interaction;

Assist programme team in developing training and other curricular materials for Assistive technology, rehabilitation, disability courses for training events and workshops;

Perform any other role related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Head of Global Programmes.

Training components and learning elements

ATscale highly values interns' contributions and appreciates the importance of learning during an internship. ATscale thus will provide a wealth of opportunities for on-the-job training, studying programme-related documents, data analysis and preparation of reports and statistics.

She/he will have the opportunity to join official meetings and learn about ATscale, the UN, the disability sector and multilateral cooperation. She/he will get exposure to key stakeholders, multi-partner donors, international non-governmental organizations, government work and other representatives.

Applicants must be enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor, Master or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship.

Candidates with a degree or enrolled in courses related to public health, global health and rehabilitation courses such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or prosthetics & orthotics, audiology, optometry are preferred

Experience:

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience but experience (paid or volunteer) in rehabilitation or public health would be an advantage.

Lived experience as an AT user is desirable.

Contract type: Internship
Contract level: Intern
Contract duration: 12 Months

This internship is not designed to lead to a staff position with UNOPS. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. Further, UNOPS may provide a one time travel lumpsum per policy dependent on defined factors. However, Interns must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

For more details about UNOPS internships please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Internships-and-volunteering.aspx
Additional Information

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.

Geneva, Switzerland is a UN Family Duty station

ATscale aims to attract users of Assistive Technology (AT users) as part of the Secretariat team. For the purposes of this job description, “AT user” refers to someone who currently requires the use of assistive technology - assistive products and/or associated services - to be able to operate in a professional working environment. Assistive devices include but are not limited to wheelchairs, prosthesis, hearing aids, augmentative and alternative communication devices, etc.

Terms and Conditions

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.