UNICEF Pacific Consultancy: National Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator, Pohnpei, FSM, 24 Months

UNICEF Pacific is in search of a dedicated and proactive national consultant. The consultancy is for a period of 24 months. The consultant will be based in Pohnpei, FSM for the entire duration of the assignment providing programmatic and technical assistance through effective collaboration with both the Government and development partners, and capacity-building support. S/he will work under supervision of ATscale government focal point (Assistant Secretary of Special Education Unit, National Department of Education, FSM), who provides strategic leadership in the project implementation. The coordinator will also work closely with the UNICEF North Pacific Field Office team, who will provide technical guidance and project/financial management support in coordination with the UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO).

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For every child, the right to access. 

UNICEF Pacific's Multi-Country office will be implementing the AT-scale supported project titled “Unlock Healthy Learning in the Pacific: Improving access to assistive technology and related rehabilitation services for school-aged children” to increase access to vision, hearing, and mobility assistive technology (AT) for school-aged children across three Pacific Island countries: FSM, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. In FSM, the project aims to screen over 16,000 children and provide appropriate assistive products and services to more than 1,960. Leveraging existing partnerships in the Pacific, the project will also strengthen national systems by creating functional multi-sectoral referral pathways, building workforce capacity, and improving supply chains through a unified regional approach featuring pooled procurement and harmonized standards.

To ensure smooth and effective implementation, a full-time National Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator will be recruited to handle the daily coordination of AT-related activities within the FSM government system. The coordinator will support the FSM Government Focal Point for the ATscale-supported project. This role is crucial for the successful implementation of the vision and hearing and mobility screening and AT provision program, as it involves hands-on administrative and technical tasks. The coordinator will be embedded within the National Department of Education (NDOE)’s division of special services and will work closely with four state-level AT focal points, service providers and other stakeholders.

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of this national consultancy is to handle the daily coordination of AT-related activities within the FSM government system. It involves hands-on administrative and technical tasks and will work closely with four state-level AT focal points, service providers and other stakeholders.

Under the direct supervision of the FSM Government Focal Point, s/he will undertake the following roles and responsibilities:

Coordination, Communication, and Implementation:

• Assist in establishing the national AT governance /steering committee and serve as its secretariat. This includes helping to schedule meetings and workshops with stakeholders to ensure their participation is effectively captured.
• Act as a key communication and coordination focal point, facilitating information flow within the national AT governance / steering committee and between the national government focal point, state focal points, Departments of Education and Health, implementing partners (Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Organization of People with Disabilities (OPDs)), and the UNICEF North Pacific Field Office (FO) team, Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO), and the ATscale Secretariat.
• Assist in developing a national Communications Plan as required by ATscale to increase program visibility and identify communication activities to support program implementation and AT system strengthening.
• Assist the national government focal point in coordinating with the ATscale Secretariat and regional experts/partners (i.e., WHO Regional Technical Officer, PDF, UNICEF Procurement Specialist, technical/clinical experts, and research partners).
• Work with the government procurement focal point/agency and UNICEF Procurement Specialist to facilitate the procurement of AT products and logistical arrangements for screenings and AT provision; and support activities to strengthen national procurement/supply systems.
• Collect, organize, and manage all program-related documentation. Assist with report review, monitoring, supervision, and preparing updates for implementing partners.

Strategic and Technical Support:

• Provide general technical and administrative support to the National AT steering committee. This includes finalizing multi-year and annual work plans, a workforce capacity development plan, a results framework, a risk management plan, and facilitating research activity.
• Provide data and information to UNICEF Field Office and MCO required to meet ATscale biannual and annual reporting requirements (i.e., narrative, results tracking, financial reports, lessons learned).
• Provide on-the-ground coordination and support for program activities, such as including delivering technical training to providers, developing clinical and practice standards, implementing effective service delivery system and referral pathways, ensuring quality assurance for screening activities and service provision (e.g., follow up), and managing CSO/OPDs sub-contracted to deliver advocacy or direct services.
• Collaborate with a technical agency to identify and implement the most appropriate digital platform for tracking service delivery, product distribution, and follow-up.
• Work with regional and national partners to assist in, support the development of national AT policy briefs, advocacy and awareness raising campaigns, and facilitate policy and financing discussions within government bodies.
• Contribute to policy integration of AT into national health/education strategies. This will, amongst other things, include the institutionalization of training activities supported by the project.

 High-level deliverables

• A fully functional, multi-sectoral/multi-stakeholder National Assistive Technology (AT) Steering Committee is operational, with meeting reports consistently prepared and disseminated on a timely basis.
• Effective and on-track implementation of the Annual Implementation Plan is ensured through rigorous and continuous monitoring.
• The National Communications Plan is developed, finalized and implemented.
• Effective supply chain system for AT products is established and maintained, with timely forecasting, procurement, distribution and inventory management.
• All required narrative, data, and financial reports are shared promptly, including comprehensive lessons learned for the bi-annual and annual reports.
• A streamlined communication and information flow is actively maintained across all key stakeholders, including the National/State Departments of Education and Health, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and UNICEF offices.

Please refer to the  TOR AT Coordinator.pdf for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application and technical proposal. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above and should show a breakdown for the following:

• Consultancy fee
• Travel (any country travel – quarterly visits to each state)
• Miscellaneous- to cover health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• A Bachelors degree in health, public health, and inclusive education, or a related field

Experience & Skills:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in public health and related field
• Technical expertise in health system, public health, inclusive education, field of disability
• Experience in programme or project support, preferably in the field of disability or a related sector
• Strong organizational, administrative, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Familiarity and experience of working with UN agencies is an asset
• Strong inter-personal, teamwork and organizational skills
• Advance computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software
• Solid analytical, negotiating, communication, advocacy and report writing skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of a local language is highly desired. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

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