Country engagement

ATscale-supported programmes aim to stimulate government ownership, multi-sectoral coordination, and multi stakeholder partnership approaches to bridge the gap between demand and supply by convening stakeholders towards a common vision. 

Through catalytic investments, we support government-led and locally-driven national plans for scaling up access to assistive technology (AT) which are focused on strengthening systems and creating favorable political environments to sustainably increase access to assistive technology.

We are currently supporting a range of programmes in over 33 countries, of which 6 are low-income countries, 18 are lower-middle income countries, and 9 are higher-middle income countries. Regional coverage is balanced with support across all regions.

A map snippet showing the countries that ATscale supports

We place a strong emphasis on engaging organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), other civil society organizations, and increased participation of AT users, women, caregivers, and vulnerable populations in all spheres of a country programme (design, implementation and monitoring, learning, and evaluation). By emphasizing government leadership, we aim to maximize the effectiveness and sustainability of the programmes, ensuring they align with national priorities and strategies.

Our country engagement approach follows a demand-based and competitive process.  

ATscale’s country investments fall into the following two categories:

 

Programme scale-up support

A minimum of 3 years funding to support countries in line with the government’s long-term vision to increase access to assistive technology.

Activities we support include system strengthening (governance and leadership, financing, human resources, service delivery, data and information, assistive product supply chain, and advocacy and awareness generation); and building and shaping the market for assistive products (bulk procurements, local production and assembly, innovation scale-up, public-private partnerships and demand generation, etc.)


Countries where ATscale supports scale-up programmes include: 

  • Azerbaijan

  • Cambodia

  • Colombia

  • Egypt

  • El Salvador

  • Ethiopia

  • Georgia

  • Indonesia

  • Jordan

  • Kenya

  • Nigeria

  • Pakistan

  • Rwanda

  • Senegal

  • State of Palestine

  • Tajikistan

  • Tanzania

  • Zambia


Foundational support

Short-term funding (12-24 months) to support governments that are at a more nascent stage of AT programme development to implement foundational activities (e.g., development of a national strategy/policy, assistive product list, assistive product specifications, etc.) necessary to lay the basis for long-term investments. This means creating a conducive environment including building political will and commitment to increase access to AT; a deeper understanding of the current AT context; and consensus on the most appropriate long-term strategies and activities.

The countries that are currently receiving foundational support include:

  • Bangladesh

  • Chad

  • Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Guatemala

  • Honduras

  • Lesotho

  • Mozambique

  • Nepal

  • Peru

  • Togo

  • Zimbabwe