Senior Program Officer, Assistive Technology

Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

 

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

 

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication, and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

 

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion, and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

 

Program Overview

 

CHAI launched its global Assistive Technology (AT) Program in 2018 to support governments in building sustainable systems that improve access to quality, affordable, and appropriate assistive products.

 

In Zambia, CHAI works closely with the Ministry of Health and other government institutions, development partners, and organizations of people with disabilities to strengthen governance, financing, service delivery, market systems, and data use for Assistive Technology. Key achievements include supporting the national Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA), development of the national Assistive Product List (APL), strengthening national coordination mechanisms, and advancing efforts to integrate AT into health and social service systems.

 

Despite this progress, access to Assistive Technology remains constrained by limited financing, workforce shortages, weak supply chains, and inequitable service availability, particularly in rural areas.

 

Building on previous investments, CHAI is working in a consortium to expand support to strengthen national governance, integrate Assistive Technology into government systems, improve service delivery, develop sustainable market systems, and generate evidence to inform policy and investment decisions. Working in partnership with government and key stakeholders, the program aims to establish a sustainable Assistive Technology ecosystem that improves access to quality assistive products and advances inclusive health, education, and social protection outcomes across Zambia.

 

Position Overview

 

The Senior Program Officer, Assistive Technology (AT) will provide technical and programmatic leadership in supporting the Government of Zambia to strengthen national systems for Assistive Technology. The position will lead implementation of activities aimed at improving governance, policy development, market shaping, procurement, product standardization, financing, and integration of Assistive Technology within Zambia's health, education, and social protection systems.

 

Working closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), development partners, and local manufacturers, the Senior Program Officer will provide technical assistance to strengthen national coordination mechanisms, improve access to quality assistive products, support evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to the development of sustainable Assistive Technology markets.

 

The role requires a highly collaborative professional with strong health systems, policy, stakeholder engagement, project management, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

Governance, AT product access, markets, systems integration and strengthening

• Provide strategic technical leadership to strengthen national governance, stakeholder engagement, policy, and institutional frameworks for Assistive Technology (AT) in Zambia.
• Support government-led coordination, stakeholder management mechanisms, and promote integration of AT across health, education, and social protection systems.
• Provide technical support to government oversight functions including strengthening AT policies, procurement systems, product standardization, and sustainable market development, including support for local manufacturing and supply chain improvements.
• Drive program performance by supporting planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, tracking and reporting on Program milestones and performance targets.
• Represent CHAI in national technical working groups and coordination forums, facilitating multi-sectoral collaboration and implementation of joint work plans.
• Support implementation of the national Assistive Priority Product List (APL) and development of standardized product specifications to strengthen procurement and quality assurance.
• Strengthen sustainable Assistive Technology markets by promoting local procurement, manufacturing, repair, maintenance, and market systems development in collaboration with government and industry partners.
• Support integration of Assistive Technology into national health systems, service delivery platforms, and priority disease programs.
• Strengthen integration of Assistive Technology into national planning, budgeting, procurement, and service delivery systems to advance Universal Health Coverage.

MEL, Technical Assistance and Resource Mobilization

• Provide technical assistance to government institutions on Assistive Technology policy, planning, procurement, financing, and service delivery.
• Lead Program monitoring by tracking performance indicators, implementation milestones, and routine data to inform program improvement.
• Prepare high-quality technical and donor reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products to support reporting, learning, and decision-making.
• Support resource mobilization through proposal development, including technical narratives, budgets, implementation plans, and monitoring frameworks.
• Identify opportunities for program growth, strategic partnerships, and expansion of Assistive Technology initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Systems Management, Rehabilitation Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in public health, health systems, public policy, international development, or a related discipline will be an added advantage
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in health systems strengthening, public health, disability inclusion, rehabilitation, assistive technology, market shaping, health financing, or related technical programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with government ministries and development partners.
• Experience working on disability inclusion, rehabilitation, Assistive Technology, Universal Health Coverage, or medical products programs.
• Familiarity with WHO Assistive Technology guidance and global best practices.

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