Consultant for Website Upgradation, Hosting and Maintenance (ICT Enable Service)
For ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia

Name of Organization: Article19 Bangladesh and South Asia
Responsible to: Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia
Key relationships: Programme team, ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia and HR and Admin. Officer, ARTICLE 19
Application Deadline: 20th April 2024
Payment and Benefits: BDT 10,00,000 for the Contract Period
Focal Contact Person : HR & Admin Officer, ARTICLE 19
Location : ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh Office
​Duration: 30 April 2024 to 31st August 2024, duration may be changed during the contract period

​About Us
​
Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear or discrimination. Our mission is to promote and defend the universal human rights of freedom of expression and information around the world, through international advocacy and legal analysis, and regional and national projects.
ARTICLE 19 is a global organization, with a strong presence in the Global South, recruiting local staff and establishing strong and operationally autonomous national and regional offices. These offices have helped the organization strengthen relationships with civil society, better understand regional and national challenges, and respond more swiftly to opportunities and crises.
The Bangladesh and South Asia Regional Office of ARTICLE 19 is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its International Office is located in London.

Project Scope:
“Journalists with enhanced safety and security-JESS” is a 2-year project funded by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) to ensure the protection & safety of journalists, especially women journalists from both external and internal threats, harassment, abuse, and other forms of violence in Bangladesh. This project mainly addresses the safety of journalists to prevent discrimination, online-offline harassment, bullying, sexual harassment in media houses, and external threats. The JESS project also focuses on strengthening protection protocols and safety mechanisms in media houses ensuring safety of journalists. Firstly, Bolster the resilience of journalists, especially women and marginalized journalists. Secondly, make media houses safer workplaces and increase their protection mechanism for journalists to mitigate external threats. Thirdly, advocate with the Government of Bangladesh to comply with its responsibility of upholding the safety of journalists and media freedom.
Project Outcome:

  • Outcome 1: Journalists, and in particular women and journalists from marginalized communities, have improved skills in digital and physical security and access to support to protect themselves in their everyday work.
  • Outcome 2: Media houses adopt internal non-discrimination policies and, safeguarding protocols and other mechanisms to protect their employees from workplace harassment and external threats.
  • Outcome 3: Civil society is more coordinated in its efforts to put pressure on the GoB to uphold safety of journalists and media freedom through engagement in national and international advocacy.

Scope of Work:
Under the JESS project, a website was developed (https://a19southasia.org/) to upload and disseminate documents and tools produced under the project. To enhance user experience, optimizing performance, and ensuring compatibility with evolving technologies and devices we need to upgrade the website. It aims to improve visual appeal, streamline navigation, and enhance functionality to meet the changing needs and preferences of users. Additionally, upgrades seek to bolster security measures, ensuring robust protection against cyber threats and safeguarding sensitive information. Ultimately, the goal is to elevate the website's overall effectiveness, fostering increased engagement, retention, and conversion rates.

The commissioned consultant/firm will consider the following issues among others while upgrading, hosting and maintain the website:

  • Website requirements and features:
  • Design Enhancement: Revamping the website's layout, graphics, and typography to create a visually appealing and modern interface.
  • Content Optimization: Updating and refining existing content, as well as adding new, relevant content to improve search engine visibility and user engagement.
  •  Framework Change: We are considering transitioning our website from WordPress to a different framework.
  • Responsive Design: Ensuring that the website is optimized for various devices and screen sizes, providing a seamless experience across desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Functionality Improvement: Introducing new features or refining existing ones to enhance user interaction, such as implementing contact forms, chatbots, or Job portal.
  • Security Enhancements: Strengthening website security measures to protect against cyber threats, including implementing SSL certificates, firewall protection, and regular security audits.
  • Accessibility Compliance: Ensuring that the website meets accessibility standards, making it usable for people with disabilities and adhering to guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
  • SEO Optimization: Improving the website's search engine visibility through on-page optimization techniques, such as keyword optimization, meta tag optimization, and URL structure improvements.
  • Integration of Third-Party Tools: Integrating with external tools and platforms, such as social media plugins, analytics tools, and CRM systems, to enhance functionality and gather valuable insights.
  • User Testing and Feedback Incorporation: Conducting usability testing and gathering feedback from users to identify areas for improvement and iteratively refine the website based on user preferences and behaviour.

A. Hosting the website, maintaining the required licenses, safety and security of the tool.

B. Web site maintenance

  • Web site content updates: the contracted Agency will assist with content update.
  • The contracted Agency will maintain full backup of the website through the duration of the contract.
  • Deliver the backup, code, and source files from time to time.
  • The contracted Agency will verify regularly that the site is up, active and running, and will revert to the back-up whenever necessary.
  • Generate regular reports.
  • Ensure overall site security.

Do any other relevant maintenance works as required for the website.

Any other note or condition

Any documents, analysis, report, data frame, tools, formats, checklists, or any information entrusted to or produced in connection with this consultancy shall be handed over to ARTICLE 19. All tasks and assignments shall be strictly the property of ARTICLE 19 and cannot be disclosed or used for any other purpose. This provision shall remain valid even after the completion of the assignment.
Other terms and conditions will be governed by the Policies of ARTICLE 19 Bangladesh and South Asia Regional Office as stated time to time.

Timeframe of Deliverables:

Timeframe of deliverable and milestones:

    • An inception report with a clear work plan setting out the approach and timelines for the delivery of every activity.
    • Draft website and dry run of the website.
    • Final functional website comprehending ARTICLE 19 feedback and comments.
    • Hosting and maintenance of the website.


Consultancy Fee and Payment Schedule:

A consultancy fee of not exceeding BDT 10,00,000/- (In word: Taka Ten Lakh Taka Only, including all VAT and Tax) for this assignment during contract period will be payable to the selected Consultant. The deliverables must be collated with the invoices before collecting the final payments.

Payment will be made through A/C Payee cheque/ EFT within 15 (fifteen) working days upon satisfactorily services received/completion of work and submission of invoice collated with relevant documents.

Payment Mode:

  • First payment – 40%, after signing the consultancy contract.
  • Final payment – balance 60%, after submission of final invoice of website upgradation, hosting and maintenance.

Required Qualifications and Expertise:

ARTICLE 19 Will Provide:
ARTICLE 19 will provide the following support to the Consultant during the assignment period:

  • Provide relevant information and documents to complete the assignment to the consultant (as needed).
  • It will be expected from the consultant to share the plan of action, developments, reports and reviews as the progression of work and receive feedback, guidance as appropriate.
  • Outputs and drafts will be reviewed with verbal and written comments and guidance that will be expected to be addressed and incorporated into various drafts of outputs including the final deliverables.

How to Apply:

Persons/firms wishing to be considered for this consultancy are invited to submit:

  • technical and financial proposal along with a cover letter.
  • resume/portfolio stating relevant experiences, and expertise.
  • a summary of the previous work (samples of previously done similar works)
  • a one pager of your understanding of the assignment.
  • consultancy firms must submit the relevant legal entitlements, such as copy of trade license, copy of BIN certificate or VAT registration and TIN Certificate.

Application Deadline: 20th April 2024

To apply, please click here