Senior Programme Manager

Organizational context

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services for a more sustainable world.

Firmly grounded in UN values, we ensure our partners maximize the positive impact of their peace and security, humanitarian and development projects. Equality, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience form the foundations of our work.

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. ATscale is hosted by UNOPS.

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 defined a strategy overview (https://ATscalepartnership.org/strategy) in which it describes 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.

ATscale has also published an investment case for the sector (https://atscalepartnership.org/investment-case), as well as thorough market analyses and strategies, called Product Narratives, for improving access to its five priority products: wheelchairs, hearing aids, eyeglasses, prostheses, and digital assistive devices and software.

Job Summary

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.

The Senior Programme Manager will support the Head of Global Programmes & Markets to develop and to implement ATscale’s strategy to strengthen increased access to assistive technology (AT), with a particular focus on country-based interventions. He/she will manage ATscale’s partnership and related grants with a sub-set of countries that ATscale is working with. He/she will also support global level interventions that create a stronger enabling system and market for low and middle income countries.

The Senior Programme Manager will be part of a team of six: five Senior Programme Managers, reporting to the Head of Global Programmes & Markets. As ATscale is still evolving from a start-up phase, the team’s make-up and composition will continue to evolve over time.

Strategic priorities to strengthen the enabling ecosystem therefore include building political will, increasing investment in AT, generating and using data and evidence and coordinating technical assistance for national policy & planning. The Senior Programme Manager will support the development of ATscale investments in innovative and cost-effective interventions to support the priorities at global and national level.

Strategy Development

• Support the development of ATscale’s strategy for strengthening the enabling ecosystem in coordination with the broader ATscale strategy and operational plan.
• An emphasis on a coherent approach/plan for coordinated support at country-level is required, which could include:
  • support development of enabling policies, standards and other tools to support implementation of AT systems and access to AT services.
  • support to national planning processes for AT sector development and inclusion in health and social systems;
  • build capacity of AT users and workforce to increase ownership and participation;
  • identifying effective finance mechanisms;
  • establishing standards and regulatory mechanisms that ensure production, procurement and provision of quality assistive products; and,
  • strengthening data collection and information management systems.
• Articulate mutually supportive links between interventions that reinforce elements of the enabling ecosystem and those that focus on a specific product and its related services.

Programme Management

• Support the translation of the ATscale strategy and country approach into priority interventions.
• Oversee a sub-set of country programmes based on ATscale country engagement approach, including ensuring robust country plans are developed, approved for funding and implemented effectively
• Support the Head of Global Programmes & Markets in prioritisation process for a coherent package of interventions to strengthen the enabling ecosystem and market shaping approaches to present to the Board in the preparation of annual operational plans
• Supported by expert input, lead the detailed scoping of interventions approved by the board
• Oversee the processes leading to implementation of a sub-set of these interventions from the programmatic side, e.g. participation in competitive processes through drafting of requests for proposals, evaluation etc.
• Stay abreast of developments in the AT sector to inform recommendations for investment by ATscale.

Partners and Stakeholder Management

• Maintain partnerships at working level to develop and advance ATscale’s strategy and effective implementation of agreed programmes
• Engage with relevant partners in the assistive technology space, including organisations of persons with disabilities, national governments, UN and other multilateral agencies, bi-and multilateral donors, private funders, international NGOs, the private sectors such as manufacturers and suppliers of assistive technology, and technical experts including in academia

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of/from enabling ecosystem related ATscale investments and promote data utilisation among partners to guide the interventions.
• Use information gained from the regular partner reports and MEL to inform policy and strategy briefs, current strategy, and to support advocacy.

Miscellaneous

• Ensure all processes above remain aligned with UN host agency requirements.
• Provide the Head of Global Programmes & Markets and the team with regular updates on developments in the AT sector and potential opportunities.
• Prepare talking points, presentations, and other material to support the Head and, upon request, the CEO.
• Support the preparation of relevant Board Papers related to the enabling ecosystem for ATscale Board meetings

Results

Quality assurance, Monitoring and Progress Controls

Outputs:

• Effective achievement of results at country level
• Effective implementation of a coherent package of enabling ecosystem interventions at global and country level
• Contract processes completed for interventions within approved annual operational plan
• Documented network of partner contacts relevant to the enabling ecosystem for ATscale
• Provide technical advise to countries and partners on scaling-up access to AT
• Support in increased visibility of ATscale work

Education:

• A bachelors degree in public health, management, rehabilitation (such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or prosthetics & orthotics, audiology, rehabilitation doctors) or a related field is required combined with 9 years of relevant experience
  or
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public health, management, rehabilitation (such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or prosthetics & orthotics, audiology, rehabilitation doctors) or a related field is required combined with 7 years of relevant experience

Experience:

• A minimum of 9 years ( with a Bachelors Degree) or 7 years’( with a Master Degree) experience at increasing levels of responsibility in managing and implementing health systems strengthening programs in the areas of health policy and administration, health sector development or public health is required
• Proven track record working with development cooperation partners (e.g., bilateral donors, multilateral organizations, international NGOs etc.), host country government officials, key stakeholders, and civil society to achieve a common objective (preferably in health or another similar area of development) is required
• Demonstrated experience of rehabilitation or assistive technology or disability issues is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in providing technical advice for planning, implementation and monitoring of AT programmes is considered an asset.
• Experiences engaging in public-private partnerships and experience and/or understanding of working with the private sector an asset.
• Skill in strengthening service delivery programs, training, performance and quality improvement and monitoring and evaluation is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience of engaging with/ within Lower-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), preferably including experience supporting government institutions is desirable.
• Extensive experience with programme management and coordination is desirable.
• Significant experience leading the development of high-quality deliverables, including presentations and written reports, including for donors is considered an asset
• Solid understanding of MEL and demonstrated ability to analyse and utilise data to monitor and manage interventions and programmes is desirable.
• Lived experience as an AT user is desirable.

Language requirements:

• An excellent knowledge of English is required
• Good working knowledge of other UN languages, especially Chinese, French or Spanish would be an asset.

Diversity:

• People self-identifying as living with a disability or AT users are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• 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, please make us aware by sending an email to info@atscalepartnership.org

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