Web Developer At African Population and Health Research Center

Background

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO) in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

APHRC has partnered with the Gates Foundation to implement the Catalyze Impact via Africa-led Implementation Research initiative (Catalyze Impact Initiative). This initiative seeks to link research outputs to policy and decision-making for impact across the continent with specific activities in three countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. This Initiative aims to drive meaningful change and positive outcomes that will address key development challenges through an enhanced Research & Development (R&D) ecosystem on the continent.

Scope of Work
The Catalyze Impact Initiative seeks the services of an experienced Web Developer – an individual or a firm, to develop, design and operationalize a modern and organic micro-website. The microsite will communicate the ambition of the Catalyze Impact Initiative and specifically host various web-based implementation research platforms created by the Catalyze Impact Initiative. It will be linked to APHRC’s main website as a microsite, which aims to increase the visibility and access of all Catalyze Impact Initiatives.

The designed microsite will incorporate mobile responsiveness, browser compatibility, cyber security mechanisms, and search engine optimization functionalities. Below are some of the key characteristics of the microsite:

• Responsive design- should be compatible with all devices and browsers.
• Accessibility – meet web content accessibility standards (WCAG)
• Integration- seamless integration with the portals and APHRC main website
• Optimized for an interactive and immersive user experience.
• Portray the uniqueness and value of the Catalyze Impact Initiative
• User-friendly navigation- easy to navigate through the pages.
• Security- robust security measures to protect data.
• Look and feel- visually appealing layout design.

Roles of the Web Developer

Planning and requirement gathering

1. Liaise with APHRC to understand website users’ needs and identify corresponding user interfaces, content hierarchy, and relevant functions.
2. Develop a detailed website development plan that will guide the creation of a fully functional and user-friendly site within specified timelines.

Design

1. Create a visually appealing website with high-quality dynamic content to enhance user experience and responsiveness even in low-bandwidth locations.
2. Create original and editable graphics, iconography, design elements, and page templates that align with the APHRC brand identity for immediate & future use.

Development

1. Develop, design, and operationalize a dynamic and modern website using the most recent web development practices to optimize user experience, SEO, and security.
2. Create the website using the latest content management system and is compatible with third-party plugins, custom templates, and add-ons.
3. Create functions that profile the initiative’s impact and uniquely demonstrate our contributions to transforming Africa’s R&D ecosystem.
4. Create search functions and tools like AI-enhanced chat functionality for real-time user support.
5. Create secure forms to collect sign-up data and automatic newsletter subscriptions linked to email marketing platforms such as Constant Contact and Mailchimp.
6. Include a plugin that automatically translates all pages and posts from English to French but with the option of editing to improve accuracy.
7. Link the microsite with the host—the APHRC website—and create links to various web-based platforms and social media channels.

Search Engine Optimization and Security

1. Ensure the website’s crawlability by key search engines to ensure high ranking.
2. Develop and use metadata, such as descriptions and keywords, to aid site indexing and improve searchability.

Testing and Optimization

1. Conduct detailed testing and fix bugs.
2. Ensure a user-friendly/ easy-to-use administrator interface for all features to allow the Catalyze Impact Initiative team and system administrators to update and post.

Handover

1. Develop a detailed web maintenance guide and train system administrators on content upload, system maintenance, and administration.
2. Hand over full source code, including all design files and developed libraries, to APHRC ICT and communications team.

Qualifications and Experience

• The applicant must be an individual or a firm with at least five years of experience in web design and development and a strong portfolio of similar tasks.
• Key staff should have a degree in related disciplines: Software Engineering, Computer Science, UX & Graphics Design, or any relevant field.
• Have excellent knowledge of recent graphic and website design trends, including online video publishing and social media networking.
• Vast experience developing websites using content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
• Knowledge of current web development technologies, design tools, and programming languages such as HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, Macromedia Flash, Java
• Understands Linux web hosting environments.
• Ability to complete work independently, incorporate feedback, and deliver on time.
• Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills.
• Extensive and demonstrable experience and ability to create innovative and visually appealing designs.

Responsibilities of APHRC

• Assigning a focal person to provide background information and to work closely with the team by giving directions before, during, and after production.
• Provide a detailed brief before the kick-off of the project, providing content, branding guidelines, logos, and other materials.
• Once the production is finalized and cleared, facilitate payment to the Consultant.

Requirements for the Proposal

If you have the required qualifications and are interested in this assignment, please submit a proposal describing the previous work done in this area. The following information must be provided in the proposal:

• A company portfolio
• A detailed CV of team members: lead developer, junior developer, graphical integrator, graphic designer, and any other team member.
• Three links to previous relevant work/websites with similar functionalities
• Three referees for previous clients – similar assignment.
• Detailed budgeted work plan, including project stages and timelines, deliverables, and proposed schedule of payments.

Shortlisted web developers will be required to prepare a 10-minute presentation to demonstrate the development concept and approach to building this microsite.