Applying market shaping approaches to increase access to assistive technology in low- and middle-income countries

Development outcomes are inextricably linked to the health of the marketplace that delivers products and services to people in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Shortcomings in the market for assistive technology (AT) contribute to low access in LMIC. Market shaping is aimed at improving a market's specific outcomes, such as access to high quality, affordable AT, by targeting the root causes of these shortcomings. The paper summarizes the findings of market analyses conducted under the UK aid funded AT2030 programme in support of ATscale and aims to discuss how market shaping can help more people gain access to the AT that they need and what are the best mechanisms to unlock markets and commercial opportunity in LMICs. The paper also explores how market shaping for AT markets could be part of a mission-oriented approach AT policy. A mission-oriented approach can help accelerate progress toward a common objective among stakeholders, at country or global level. While market-shaping activities direct the outcomes of the market toward a specific end goal, such as access to quality, affordable products and services, missions are more comprehensive and include other policy interventions and stakeholder collaborations in order to create a robust and sustainable structure

Scoping Research Report on Assistive Technology - On The Road For Universal Assistive Technology Coverage

Over one billion people – largely disabled people and older people – are currently in need of Assistive Technology (AT). By 2050, this number is predicted to double. Despite the proven advantages of AT for disabled and older people, their families, and society, there is still a vast and stubborn gap between the need and the supply; currently only 10% of those who need AT currently have access to it. This Scoping Research Report on Assistive Technology (AT) seeks to unpick and understand the multi-layered and multifaceted ways in which economic, social, and political factors interplay and interact to create barriers to AT for those who need it the most. Through primary and secondary research, they explore the current landscape, the limitations, and current initiatives, ultimately answering the question: “How best should a target intervention around AT sphere affect positive change for poor, disabled and older people in Global South priority countries?”. To understand this question, the research team asked two specific questions: What are the barriers which prevent access to AT for the people that need it, with a focus on those living in low resource settings within DFID priority Global South countries? How should DFID, in partnership with others best direct its intervention toward overcoming these barriers? The work reveals that, while levels of AT market development vary across countries, key barriers are common. These barriers can be classified into 5 main categories related to both supply and demand factors and across the 5Ps of People, Products, Provision, Personnel, and Policy. This work is part of the ‘Frontier Technology Livestreaming’ programm

Active Ageing and Independent Living Services: The Role of Information and Communication Technology

Ageing populations influence services and traditional social support systems like social and health care in the European countries, as well as global patterns in labour and capital markets. It is widely accepted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications can provide new ways of helping older citizens to live independently. ICT-based applications for independent living vary from general purpose and communication applications to applications specifically for e-learning, e-work and e-health. ICT-based services and understanding the needs of older people are key to supporting Active Ageing in upcoming ageing societies. However, there is still limited understanding of older people's technology-related needs. This report aims to support the research and policy development activities of DG Information Society and Media towards the European Research Area. It highlights the main policy areas related to ageing, where ICT-based applications could play a role, and suggests a number of research and policy challenges that need to be resolved in order to maximise the opportunities offered by ICT.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

What works to increase access to assistive technology in southern Africa

Access to assistive technologies (AT) is necessary to achieving all 17 sustainable development goals. Yet for most people who need AT in Southern Africa, AT is unaffordable, unavailable, and often inappropriate. My PhD research was guided by the core question: What works to increase access to assistive technology in Southern Africa? Organized into three sub-studies, my research aimed to identify and describe the facilitators and barriers to access AT and develop a theoretical model to inform strategies to increase AT access in Southern Africa. The first two sub-studies listed below were previously published and the full manuscripts are included as separate chapters within the thesis. The three sub-studies included: • Sub-study 1: A scoping review that characterized existing evidence on AT from resource limited environments. Evidence identified was limited in quantity and quality, and primarily focused on mobility and vision types of AT. • Sub-study 2: A secondary analysis (i.e., bivariate regressions) of national survey data from Botswana and Swaziland served to examine factors associated with higher levels of AT access. The type of disability (i.e., mobility vs. non-mobility) was found to be the most important factor in determining AT access in both countries. • Sub-study 3: A regional qualitative sub-study was conducted to increase the understanding of how a multitude of interrelated factors operate to increase the supply of and access to AT. An adapted health systems framework was applied to analyse multiple data sources including stakeholder interviews, documentation review and observations. The thesis is organized into seven chapters. In Chapter 1, I provide background information and conceptual framing of the research topic, assistive technology access within Southern Africa. The research questions and overview of the three sub-studies are included in this introductory chapter. Chapter 2 covers the research methods of all three sub-studies. For the first two sub-studies, a brief overview of data collection and analysis methods are included that reference the more detailed methods presented within each published manuscript. The first two sub-studies are presented as Chapter 3 (scoping review) and Chapter 4 (secondary analysis) within the thesis. The third sub-study (qualitative) provided the most comprehensive data of the three sub-studies and comprises findings presented in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6. In the final chapter, Chapter 7, I synthesize findings from all three sub-studies to identify prominent patterns and present models that aim to explain constraints within the AT sector. The synthesis of evidence showed that AT in Southern Africa does not operate as a sector but as a constellation of uncoordinated parts. The low prioritization of AT and high level of fragmentation within the system emerged as pervasive patterns. The combination of these two patterns result in a wasteful sector. This means that the limited resources invested in funding products and services, and in strengthening the national AT procurement and provision system are not used effectively to increase the supply of and access to appropriate AT. In my further interpretation of data to respond to the core research question: What works to increase access to assistive technology in Southern Africa? I then identify strategic levers to increase AT access. Strategic levers aim to increase resources invested in the AT sector while reducing system-wide inefficiencies. Finally, study limitations and conclusions are presented at the end of this final chapter

Inclusive trade and persons with disabilities

Current debates on inclusive trade pay limited attention to how trade policies can be designed and implemented to reduce barriers affecting persons with disabilities. This report contributes to a disability inclusive trade policy agenda by building an analytical framework that illustrates the multiple channels through which greater trade integration impacts persons with disabilities, and by developing a definition of disability inclusive trade that can be operationalized. The report combines this analytical framework with insights from selected projects in low and middle-income countries to offer recommendations for how Aid for Trade interventions can ensure that trade supports the realization of the economic rights of persons with disabilities. To this end, the report highlights the relevance of policies for not only improving working conditions in trade-related occupations where persons with disabilities already work, but also creating better employment opportunities in higher value-added segments of global value chains. The report notes that trade policies must also aim to improve the affordability and quality of food, medicines and assistive technology products, and be formulated to promote equitable access to care services, roads, transport and ICT infrastructure for persons with disabilities. Effective policy coordination is important since all these dimensions are interrelated. Report prepared for the Sustainable Trade Unit (KPO-30) of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finlan

A review of innovation strategies and processes to improve access to AT: Looking ahead to open innovation ecosystems.

It is essential to understand the strategies and processes which are deployed currently across the Assistive Technology (AT) space toward measuring innovation. The main aim of this paper is to identify functional innovation strategies and processes which are being or can be deployed in the AT space to increase access to AT globally. We conducted a scoping review of innovation strategies and processes in peer-reviewed literature databases and complemented this by identifying case studies demonstrating innovation strategies. The review includes WHO world region, publication year, AT type and a sector analysis against the Systems-Market for Assistive and Related Technologies Framework. We analyzed the case studies and interviews using thematic analysis. We included 91 papers out of 3,127 after review along with 72 case studies. Our results showed that product innovations were more prevalent than provision or supply innovations across papers and case studies. Case studies yielded two themes: open innovation (OI); radical and disruptive innovation. Financial instruments which encourage OI are needed and we recommend pursuing OI for AT innovation. Embedding AT within larger societal missions will be key to success governments and investors need to understand what AT is and their translational socioeconomic value