Programme Intern (Assistive Technology)

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment,  energy, climate and trade.

UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional 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 associatedservices. 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 https://atscalepartnership.org/

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. 

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 associatedservices. 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 https://atscalepartnership.org/

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.

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.

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

  
  

• 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.

  
  

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• 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.