Consultant - Expanding Access to Assistive Technology in the Pacific

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Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultants will provide technical support in the implementation of the design phase of the ‘Expanding Access to Assistive Technology in the Pacific’ project, and to Fiji and the Solomon Islands in the implementation of assistive technology-related objectives within their respective national strategic plans for rehabilitation.

Background

In 2018, ministers of health from countries in the Western Pacific endorsed the Western Pacific Regional Framework on Rehabilitation, which identifies rehabilitation as an essential health strategy for optimizing and maintaining the health and well-being of all people who experience illness, injury or impairment. The Framework calls for renewed emphasis on rehabilitation and assistive technology to address unmet needs through greater investments, regional collaboration, and improved data and information.

In 2019, in recognition of the need for cost effective and scalable models for assistive technology provision in the context of Pacific Island Countries (PICs), the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office commissioned a procurement study to explore options for improving procurement and service delivery. The study report provided three over-arching recommendations representing three interacting and interdependent activity areas:

1) Establish a Pacific assistive technology resource facility to provide Pacific stakeholders with impartial information, resources and guidance on assistive products, services, training and policy.

2) Establish an assistive technology supply chain hub for cost-effective supply of a prioritized range of quality assistive products.

3) Strengthen national assistive technology services and workforce within health systems to ensure assistive technology users in PICs benefit from improvements in regional AT procurement.

Recognizing the contribution that the implementation of these recommendations will make to people’s access to assistive technology in PICs, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) are supporting an 18-month design phase. The design phase will be used to gather data on assistive product needs, consult stakeholders, conduct site visits, establish priority products, and develop costed programme designs for the resource facility and supply chain hub.

Two PICs, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, have national rehabilitation strategic plans, which both include objectives on strengthening the provision of assistive products. It is important that the implementation of these objectives is coordinated with the implementation of the design phase activities and that the outcomes and deliverables are complementary.

Under the oversight of the responsible officer, the consultant will be expected to support the implementation of the design phase, including project coordination and management, stakeholder engagement, technical support, and delivery of reports and programme designs, and provide technical support in the implementation of PICs’ individual assistive technology objectives.

Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of a Team Coordinator, Pacific Noncommunicable Disease and Health through Life Course, Division of Pacific Technical Support, WHO, the consultant will provide technical support for the Pacific Island Countries and Areas (PICs) in the implementation of the design phase of the ‘Expanding Access to Assistive Technology in the Pacific’ project. The consultant may be called on to perform the following activities:

Output 1. Engage key stakeholders in the design phase of the Expanding access to assistive technology in the Pacific project. Specifically:

· Work with member states to establish and convene a project steering committee; · Map relevant health leadership meetings; · Communicate the key findings of the procurement study; and · Work with the WHO South Pacific Office to coordinate the first leadership consultation, including preparation of a concept note, invitations, agenda and meeting report.

Deliverable 1.1: Summary of key findings from the procurement study. Deliverable 1.2: Leadership consultation concept note, agenda, participant list and meeting report.

Output 2. Develop a Pacific Priority Assistive Product List (APL) to inform budgeting and procurement decision making. Specifically:

· Work with WHO colleagues and relevant stakeholders to determine the methodology for prioritization; · Coordinate the process of prioritization; and · Prepare the Pacific APL document for publication.

Deliverable 2.1: Process note describing APL methodology. Deliverable 2.2: Final APL document.

Output 3. Establish a clear pathway for the implementation of an assistive technology resource facility. Specifically:

· Establish a host entity, including through a desk review, analysis of potential entities, consultation, and consensus. · Develop a costed plan for the resource facility, detailing its mandate and scope, governance structure, analysis of risks and sustainability mechanisms and resource requirements.

Deliverable 3.1: Draft MoU for established resource facility host entity, for consultation and negotiation. Deliverable 3.2: Costed plan for the resource facility.

Output 4. Support Fiji and the Solomon Islands in the coordinated implementation of their respective assistive-technology objectives. Specifically:

· Develop an operational activity plan for the implementation of priority actions with clear resource requirements and M&E mechanisms. · Provide technical support as needed to strengthen provision and training and expand access to select products.

Deliverable 4.1: Activity plans for the implementation of assistive technology-related objectives.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational qualifications

Essential: University degree in a rehabilitation science (such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, or similar), and/or disability studies, public health, health policy or similar.

Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health or a related field.

Experience

Essential: Minimum five years relevant experience in rehabilitation and assistive technology, project management; stakeholder engagement; and providing relevant technical support to countries.

Desirable: Experience with WHO is an advantage. Related experience in low- and middle-income countries is an asset.

Skills/Knowledge

· Advanced technical knowledge in public health and assistive technology.

· Knowledge of the Western Pacific Regional Framework for Rehabilitation; GATE-initiative; universal health coverage and related concepts; and knowledge of program management cycle including monitoring and evaluation.

· Project management.

· Effective communication skills and cultural sensitivity.

· Analytical and writing skills.

Languages and level required

Essential: Fluency in English (read, write and speak at expert level)

Location

The consultant will ideally work at WHO Division of Pacific Support Office in Suva, Fiji.

Travel

Travel to other Pacific countries will likely be required.

Remuneration and duration

a. Remuneration: Please indicate your proposed daily rate in the cover letter. (Proposed upper end of Band B) b. Expected duration of the contract: 11months, Jan 15 - Dec 15 2024.

Additional Information

This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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