Purpose of the consultancy The purpose of the consultancy is to collaborate with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and HQ in coordinating the WHO household survey of rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA), as the Regional Data Coordinator (RDC) of the Global report on assistive technology.
Background This consultancy falls within the ongoing WHO work to operationalize resolutions WHA71.8 on “Improving access to assistive technology”. In this it contributes to the regional initiative to operationalize 63rd WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee resolution EM/RC63/R.3 on the same issue Resolution WHA71.8 mandates WHO to develop a Global report on assistive technology (GReAT) in the context of an integrated approach, based on the best available scientific evidence and international experience. The Global report would be utilized:
- To showcase the current global status in terms of access to AT with a comprehensive dataset, description and analysis
- To draw attention of governments and civil society about the need for and benefit of improved access to AT, especially the return on investment
- To make recommendations for concrete actions that will improve access to AT, especially in resource limited settings, based on the best available scientific information and country experience
- To support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and making Universal Health Coverage (UHC) inclusive, eventually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
In August 2019, the 1st Global Consultation on GReAT was successfully organized by WHO with 260 participants (including the EMRO team and EMR country representatives) and over 80 full manuscripts and illustrations from the global AT stakeholders. These contributions are to be selected and further developed into the chapters in the Global report. Nowadays, there is little data available on access to assistive products and services at country level. For the GReAT and consequent development and implementation of national programme to improve access to AT, data on need, unmet need, demand and barriers to access to AT is essential. The WHO has developed a household survey tool– a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) and the mobile data collection tool to support countries in collecting such data in a systematic and rapid approach. Data collection at the country level would be overseen by national data collection coordinators, officially nominated by respective governments. The findings would feed into the Global reportTechnical and financial support to countries for the implementation of data collection are to be provided across WHO HQ, ROs and COs in 2020 – 2021. The current consultancy aims to coordinate and support, at the regional level, the implementation of the survey in EMR countries that will participate in the initiative to develop the Global report on assistive technology.
Planned timelines Start date: 20/11/2020 End date: 19/09/2021