Unlocking Potential: The Transforming Power of Assistive Technology | Pascal Bijleveld | TEDxGVAGrad

According to the WHO, nearly a third of the world’s population requires at least one form of assistive technology. Despite this, there is a massive inequality gap leaving many without access to the assistive technology they need. Pascal Bijleveld presents access to safe, effective, and affordable assistive technology as a human right, and what each of us can do to push for a more equitable and inclusive world. Pascal Bijleveld joined ATscale as its first CEO in November 2021. Pascal brings to this partnership twenty years of leadership experience in global public health at country, regional and global levels. He has straddled the private and public sectors, embracing market-shaping strategies linked to deep systems transformations. Most recently, Pascal was the Director of Country Support at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. He led Gavi's largest team, responsible for country investments to drive greater coverage and equity in access to vaccines. In 2020/2021, Pascal also directed the Covid-19 vaccine delivery efforts across all Gavi-eligible countries under the auspices of the Covax Facility. From 2013 to 2017, he led the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy and Coordination Team, a multi-agency team hosted by UNICEF in New York. This team successfully managed a US$250 million trust fund used to support countries accelerate progress in reducing maternal and child mortality by making life-saving commodities more accessible through innovative market-shaping approaches. In this role, Pascal also co-led with the World Bank, the business development team that established the Global Financing Facility. Before moving to New York, Pascal spent several years in Africa with the Clinton Health Access Initiative as Country Director in Rwanda; Regional Director for West & Central Africa based out of Ghana; and as Executive Vice-President for health systems strengthening work, focusing in particular on health financing, based out of Kenya. From 2003 to 2007, he worked for the World Health Organization in Geneva as advisor to the Assistant Director General for General Management and acting Director General. As a management consultant with McKinsey & Co., from 2000 to 2003, Pascal spent a year helping launch the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Pascal holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx