VNR Lab: Integrating Assistive Technology into VNRs to Deliver a New Development Vision

Around the world, 2.5 billion people need assistive technology in order to live their lives and achieve their full potential. This number is projected to increase to 3.5 billion people by 2050. 90% of cases of poor vision worldwide could be solved by a simple pair of glasses that cost as little as $1.50. An urgent global shift in perspective is required to integrate national data on assistive technology within the United Nation’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) reporting mechanism and position it as multisectoral and essential to the achievement of the SDGs.

Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Friends of Vision group, the VNR Lab will create a space for Member States and members of the UN system to gain insights into why mainstreaming / integrating assistive technology into national plans and policies is important in delivering the 2030 Agenda and how these efforts have been reported in VNRs. Member States and other stakeholders will offer practical guidance, as well as best practices and challenges encountered integrated assistive technology in their national plans or policies and VNRs. The event will be structured around existing global policy instruments and frameworks and how they can help place assistive technology higher on national health, education social welfare, and development agendas and more effectively integrated into future VNRs.

Registration:

 

About VNR Labs:

VNR Labs provide an informal platform for experience sharing and reflection on the VNR process. The Labs, held under the Chatham House rule, are open to Member States, the United Nations system and representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders.

 

For more information, please contact Ms. Brooke Blanchard at [email protected]