Programme Intern

Job Highlight

The ATscale secretariat works to advance progress in assistive technology through three interconnected strategic pillars, by collaborating with global and national partners and engaging assistive technology users:

• Supporting Country Plans: Assisting countries in developing and implementing plans to enhance their assistive technology policies, systems, services, and financing.
• Strengthening Global Enablers: Improving the resources and infrastructure countries rely on, such as fostering healthy markets that ensure a dependable supply of high-quality, affordable products.
• Advocating for Change: Mobilizing political commitment, increasing public awareness, and securing necessary resources.

The ATscale programme team is directly responsible for the first two pillars—supporting countries and strengthening global enablers—and also provides quality assurance for the advocacy for change pillar.

About The Project Office
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 get the life-changing assistive technology they need.

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. Appropriate assistive technology is vital for enabling various population groups - including older people, persons with disabilities, and individuals with difficulties in functioning due to conditions like chronic and non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, or neurological disorders - to fully engage 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.

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. For more information, please visit

About The Group
As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), sustainable energy (SEforALL), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.

Role Purpose
The Programme intern (Assistive Technology) 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.

Functions / Key Results Expected
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;
• Assist in financial resource mobilization for programmatic activities through research focusing on donor mapping at the country and/or global level, as well as donor database management.
• Assist in donor outreach through support in conceptualization of programmatic interventions, concept note and proposal development.
• Perform any other role related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Head of Global Programmes.

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

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 and multilateral cooperation as well as on project management, the global health, rehabilitation and assistive technology sector. She/he will get exposure to key stakeholders, multi-partner donors, international non-governmental organizations, government work and other representatives.

Education Requirements
Required:

• 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 start date of the intern assignment.

Desired:

• 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 Requirements

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

Desired:

• Ability to clearly communicate complex ideas in written form, demonstrated through either academic coursework, peer reviewed journal paper, report writing, or equivalent project documentation is desirable.
• Lived experience as an AT user is desirable.