USAID’s support for ISPO through the Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF) began in 1995 with a grant for a conference on appropriate prosthetic technology. Since this particular project, the LWVF and ISPO have collaborated on several interrelated projects.
With the first grant, the organizations evaluated and field-tested commonly used prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) technologies and techniques, developed protocols and tools to measure the costs of rehabilitation, and monitored and evaluated programs. The results of that body of work enabled the LWVF to better analyze project funding requests and evaluate the impact of its programming.
The second phase of this relationship involved a grant related to the development of educational activities in prosthetics and orthotics in low-income countries. The purpose of this grant was to strengthen rehabilitation in the developing world through education and technical guidance to professionals, agencies, and nations. Under this initiative, the LWVF and ISPO have collaborated to strengthen the quality of educational programs providing prosthetic and orthotic training and to increase the number of professionals qualified to provide appropriate services. In addition, the program provides training for teachers, school exchange programs, and improved educational materials.
Current Project:
For the period from September 2008 to October 1, 2013, the LWVF has awarded ISPO a grant called: ‘Facilitating rehabilitation of people with physical disability in developing countries through education and training of prosthetics/orthotics professionals’. The main part of this grant is the awarding of scholarships for education and training for persons involved in the delivery of prosthetic an orthotic services.
For the period from September 2008 to October 1, 2013, the LWVF has awarded ISPO a grant called: ‘Facilitating rehabilitation of people with physical disability in developing countries through education and training of prosthetics/orthotics professionals’. The main part of this grant is the awarding of scholarships for education and training for persons involved in the delivery of prosthetic an orthotic services.
Program activities - Education and training:
Award scholarships for education and training for 113 persons in the profession of prosthetics and/or orthotics:
- 35 Category I Prosthetic and Orthotics Professionals (prosthetists-orthotists)
- 78 Category II Prosthetics and Orthotic Professionals (orthopaedic technologists)
- Review and analysis of student performance each semester
- Graduate & employer questionnaire
This program is for 113 scholarships (35 ISPO Category I and 78 ISPO Category II are stipulated in award). The steering group can determine changes to the number and type of scholarships awarded.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Program: Rehabilitation of physically disabled people in developing countries
Program: Rehabilitation of physically disabled people in developing countries
Cooperative agreement: An award from the United States Agency for International Development to the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Funding period: 30 September 2008 – 29 September 2013
Purpose: To facilitate the rehabilitation of people with physical disabilities in developing countries.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
ISPO has received grants from the Leahy War Victims Fund of USAID, which makes it possible to award a significant number of scholarships for education and training of prosthetics and orthotics professionals for both Category-I and Category-II schools, recognised by ISPO.
A scholarship contains two elements:
1) Tuition and school fees, which covers all expenses related to the schooling and training (in the field as well), books, examinations and graduation.
2) Living costs, which covers accommodation, stipend, resident permit and medical cover.
A full ISPO scholarship covers both elements.
A partial ISPO scholarship may also be awarded, which mean that ISPO awards the tuition/school fees on the condition that another party/partner (NGO, charity, private funds, government programme) provides cost sharing, which covers part of the scholarship, for example the living costs and travel costs (in-bound travel to the school, one round-trip for a home vacation during the school vacation periods, and the homebound travel after graduation). However, the cost-sharing amount may not be raised from money already granted to the partner by a federal entity. Cost sharing would make it possible to increase the number of students from one to two for the same funds. The cost-sharing model may extend across geographical borders and/or regions. The total commitment for ISPO, however, will not exceed the multiple of the number of full scholarships allocated to a particular school.
Please click here to view the first edition of The P&O Scholar for more news about USAID students and graduates.
Please click here to view the USAID-ISPO Annual Report 2011.
10 Year Report:
The report on Appropriate Prosthetic and Orthotic Technologies in Low Income Countries 2000-2010 has been published in December 2010. The report describes the various program activities undertaken over the last 10 years within the framework of the agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO).
Please click here to view the report.
Key contact
Sandra Sexton, ISPO Grant Manager
Grant Manager Office
Grant Manager Office
"Drumgelloch", 95 Dryburgh Road, Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK. ML2 7JH
T: 00 44 (0)1698 381964
S: sandra.sexton
Nonna Mikeladze, ISPO Grant Coordinator
ISPO Head Office
22-24 Rue du Luxembourg, B-1000 Brussels – Belgium
T: 0032 (2) 213.13.68
S: nonna.mikeladze
