Overview
Country: Nepal
Project Duration: August 01, 2023, to July 31, 2024
The project aims to assist government ministries and stakeholders in rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (AT) services. This involves conducting a thorough analysis of AT needs and delivery capacity using specific assessment tools, leading to the development of a coherent national plan for increased investment and access to AT and rehabilitation services. Key activities conducting Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C), strengthening National Rehabilitation Strategic Plan, revising the list of priority assistive products, and advocating for more public and private financing through a local investment case. The implementation of these objectives will result in an improved AT investment environment in Nepal, with accessible and affordable AT services for all, benefiting quality of life and productivity. Extensive engagement with stakeholders is expected to create a positive long-term AT environment, encouraging future investments and returns.
The primary objective of this approach is to generate an evidence-base for AT in Nepal, galvanize political will towards a supportive AT investment environment, and facilitate synergy between governing bodies, stakeholders, and regulations. This will be achieved through the three major outcomes listed below.
Activities
Mapping and AT landscape analysis: The landscape analysis will examine the existing AT service and policy environment and turn findings from the ATA-C assessment, existing results from rATA and STARS and other relevant studies into actionable information for stakeholders for context-driven AT planning. The analysis will assess the overall AT service and policy framework and summarize findings from various studies to generate a conclusive evidence-base for AT in Nepal.
Building an enabling environment to produce a national AT policy: The program will engage key stakeholders during the ATA-C assessment, creating opportunities to bring stakeholders together and create an inclusive enabling environment. The findings from the ATA-C assessment will be used to identify priority action areas, harmonize efforts of all stakeholders towards a common objective, and strengthening National Rehabilitation Strategic Plan. PAPL was developed in 2018 in Nepal. This list is currently being piloted with the newly formed local-level government that now manages the budget for Persons with Disabilities and AT-related interventions. Revision of the PAPL and specifications of products will be carried out.
Reinforcing investments in AT: The “Case for Investing in Assistive Technology, 2021” published by ATScale reinforces the multifold returns on investments in AT globally. The development of a local investment case is expected to reinforce this in the local context. The project intends to develop an AT costing scenario to support increased government financing, private funding, and stakeholder interventions for AT.
Impact and Sustainability: Achieving key objectives of this project will lead to the establishment of an enhanced environment for AT investment and capacity building in Nepal. It will also yield context-specific and attainable action plans, contributing to notable improvements in AT services. Helen Keller is confident that engaging extensively with stakeholders from relevant agencies and sectors, including federal and provincial structures, will play a crucial role in creating a positive long-term AT environment. This approach will foster a culture of better investments and returns, ultimately resulting in increased accessibility and affordability of AT services for everyone.