Consultancy: Development of the Alumni Online Engagement Platform At EarthRights International

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy: Development of the Alumni Online Engagement Platform

Short-term Consultancy: Development of the alumni online engagement platform

Location: In person, based in Chiang Mai or Remote with regular online meetings

Application Deadline: 1st February, 2024

Consultancy Time Period: 15th February – 30th June, 2024

1. Background

EarthRights International stands with vulnerable communities in pursuit of a vision: a world in which every person lives with the dignity of justice and human rights, on a planet where precious resources are shared equitably and preserved for the future.

Since 1999, over 600 students and participants have graduated from various training programs of EarthRights International in the Mekong Region. These include the EarthRights School, the Mekong Legal Advocacy Institute (MLAI), and Bertha Legal Fellowships, among many other programs. Our alumni come from across the Mekong region: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Our alumni program facilitates ongoing engagement and networking among alumni on the country level, the regional, international level, as well as among alumni working on similar thematic and professional fields. Within our alumni program we keep contact, follow-up and support our alumni with further training, sharing resources, small grants and needs-based support. The online engagement platform to be developed under this consultancy is part of this process.

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop and launch an online engagement platform for our alumni which

• Serves as a safe and secure social-media type engagement platform where alumni have profiles, can connect with EarthRights and each other, share news, work together in multiple groups and ways, such as groups or workspaces.
• Hosts a resource library where resources can be shared, stored, and searched by categories
• Hosts e-learning courses OR can easily be integrated with another e-learning platform with our courses

It is a must that both the engagement and the e-learning platforms are secure, encrypted, mobile responsive and run in English, Thai, Burmese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Lao.

3. Deliverables and work plan of the consultant

The consultant works under the supervision and reports to the Mekong Training Director and works closely together with the members of the Mekong Training Team.

Phase 1:

• Consult and assess the needs and purposes of the platform development process with the Training team.
• Research and provide an overview of the platforms that are suitable and recommended for our purpose, supports the decision-making process about which platforms to use.

Phase 2:

• Design the menu and the main functions of the platform(s), including visuals.
• Set up the main structure of the platform(s), including the learning management system.
• Consult Training team members to finalize the menu and the functions.

Phase 3:

• Train Training team members and course creators on how to use and admin the platform.
• Import or integrate already existing courses from our currently used e-learning platform.
• Support course creators in creating and launching courses.
• Upload already existing resource materials

Phase 4:

• Lead user test with a representative sample group of alumni and staff with feedback during the alumni learning event!
• Evaluate the user test.
• Improvements and corrections based on the feedback received from the user test.
• Create a user guide for future admins
• Create a user guide for future users.

Phase 5 (Final):

• June 30th: launch the platform live.
• Contribute to the reporting process.

4. Eligibility criteria for the consultancy

• Demonstrated track record of developing and running similar online engagement, collaboration and e-learning platforms and online courses for international non-governmental organizations, movements and networks extending to developing countries.
• Strong background in non-formal learning methods, e-learning, and networking.
• Experience in training NGO/CSO staff in digital literacy, using and being admin to such platforms.
• Flexible, fast, focused, reliable working style.
• Culturally sensitive, open, clear communication in English, ability to explain jargon and terminology in a simple, user-friendly way. Ability to communicate in another or more Mekong languages is an asset.
• Able to prioritize working with ERI during the consultancy, in case of remote work, able to meet online regularly, at times across different time zones. In-person availability is an asset.
• Maintain confidentiality of alumni personal information.

5. Commitments

The consultant is committed to

• Work approx. 30 days over the 4.5 months of the consultancy, spread evenly and according to the workload of the different phases of the platform development process
• Participate in weekly meetings with the members of the training team.
• Conduct in-person or online training of staff members
• Contribute to the reporting of the process
• Work according to the Safety and Security policies and procedures of the organization
• After launching the platform live, the consultant remains available for 1 month in April for troubleshooting and technical support.

​www.earthrights.org

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