BACKGROUND
Three decades after ASEAN was established, ASEAN leaders recognised that: there remained inadequate shared prosperity, ASEAN awareness, and contact among the people of ASEAN. It was of this concern that ASEAN leaders established the ASEAN Foundation during ASEAN’s 30th Anniversary Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 15 December 1997. The ASEAN Foundation is an organisation from and for the people of ASEAN and exists because of one vision: to build a cohesive and prosperous ASEAN Community. As an ASEAN body, the Foundation is tasked to support ASEAN mainly in promoting awareness, identity, interaction, and development of the people of ASEAN.
The ASEAN Foundation website (www.aseanfoundation.org) has been a pivotal tool in advancing the Foundation’s mission, promoting regional cooperation, and supporting the development of a cohesive and prosperous ASEAN Community. Since its inception in 2019, the website has successfully built the online profile of the Foundation over the past five years. It has served as a key platform for disseminating information about the Foundation’s initiatives, activities, and achievements. The website has played a crucial role in offering many opportunities for upskilling and networking, particularly for young people. By highlighting their success stories, the website has helped to enhance the visibility of the ASEAN Foundation and build trust and credibility among its key stakeholders.
That said, it is essential to periodically refresh an organisation’s website to ensure it remains visually appealing, relevant, and functional while making it more accessible and inclusive for the audience seeking opportunities for personal development. Therefore, the ASEAN Foundation plans to revamp its website (www.aseanfoundation.org) and seeks a capable website developer to help realise this vision.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Working under the direct supervision of the Head of Communications with the guidance of the Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation, the website developer is expected to develop a new website that will not only showcase the Foundation's mission and activities but also act as a gateway to its various digital learning platforms. This integration aims to provide a seamless user experience, enabling visitors to easily navigate between different programmes, access valuable resources (photos, annual reports, information brochures, training modules), and stay informed about the Foundation’s latest news and events. Ensuring robust technical performance is essential to support increased functionality and user engagement, making the website a reliable and efficient tool for promoting the Foundation's work.
EXPECTED OUTPUTS
The web developer is expected to develop a new website using the same name (www.aseanfoundation.org) that has the following technical aspects:
- “Spread the Word” feature where visitors can voluntarily help to spread our call for applications or call for recruitment and they will get something in return
- One-stop gateway for visitors to seamlessly access all the Foundation's programme websites, including digital learning platforms
- Responsive design on all devices, from mobile phones and tablets (iOS/Android) to desktops and laptops (Windows/Mac)
- Good accessibility design, user-friendly functionality, and cross-browser compatibility
- Robust content management system (CMS) for easy content updates and management and scalability to handle increased traffic and content growth without performance issue
- Excellent features, that include, among others, prominent visual elements, easy-to-use navigation menu, and call-to-action buttons, and partners and beneficiaries’ testimonials
- Complete integration with Google Analytics
- Optimal implementation of search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Excellent security protocol
- Seamless integration with social media platforms for sharing and engagement
At the same time, the web developer is also expected to provide the following:
- Mock design illustrating the website's intended look and website development work plan
- Training sessions for the ASEAN Foundation team on the content management system
- Continuous technical support and maintenance for one-year post-launch, which includes regular backups, updating non-CMS editable content such as numbers, texts, and pictures, and integrating small design elements like logos, icons, and photos
Lastly, the website should prominently display the impact of the Foundation's work in the ten ASEAN countries and relevant dialogue partners' countries. This should be presented in a number-driven infographic and beneficiaries’ testimonies on the landing page that is highly visible to the visitors and can be easily updated by the ASEAN Foundation staff. Each page showcasing the Foundation’s programmes should feature a clear layout that effectively separates text and images. The layout design should be flexible, allowing for easy rearrangement as needed. Each programme page should aim to present information as a visually appealing infographic that is easy to understand.
TASK OF THE CONSULTANT
The web developer is responsible for the following:
Website Design and Development:
- Develop a modern, visually appealing design that aligns with the ASEAN Foundation’s branding.
- Ensure the website is fully responsive and accessible on all devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones).
- Implement a user-friendly interface with easy navigation.
Content Management System (CMS):
- Use a robust and scalable CMS to allow easy content updates and management by the ASEAN Foundation team.
- Ensure the CMS supports multiple languages.
Content Development:
- Assist in migrating existing content to the new website.
- Develop new content as needed, including text, images, videos, and interactive elements
Integration with Other Programme Websites, Social Media, and E-Newsletter subscription
- Link the main website seamlessly with the Foundation’s programme websites, including digital learning platforms, social media, and newsletter subscription.
Training and Support:
- Provide training to the ASEAN Foundation team on managing and updating the website.
- Offer ongoing technical support and maintenance for a specified period after launch.
Technical Requirements:
- Ensure fast loading times and optimal performance.
- Implement SEO best practices to improve search engine ranking.
- Ensure website security, including SSL certification and regular updates to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Provide analytics integration (e.g., Google Analytics) for tracking user engagement and website performance.
TIME FRAME
The development of the website is expected to begin from 12 August to 27 September 2024. Below is the tentative time frame:
Date |
Outputs |
Remarks |
12 – 15 August 2024 |
Work plan of the website development |
The consultant is required to submit a comprehensive work plan outlining the entire development timeline. Revisions may be necessary, and subsequent tasks can only start once the work plan is approved. This period also includes the time required by the Foundation team to review the document.
|
16 – 23 August 2024 |
Visual mood, site structure, and information flow of the website
|
The visual design shared must adhere to the Foundation's branding guidelines, and the structure and information flow should align with the outcomes of discussions with the Foundation. This period also includes the time required by the Foundation team to review the deliverables.
|
24 August – 9 September 2024 |
First draft of the website
|
The consultant is expected to present a fully designed website that adheres to the agreed-upon structure and information flow. Content migration should be underway, with key design elements, such as the impact infographic, already in place. The necessary accessibility features should already be available as well for trial. Additionally, the website's security protocols should be implemented at this stage, if possible.
|
10 – 23 September 2024 |
Second draft of the website |
The consultant is expected to deliver a fully designed, responsive website that adheres to the agreed structure and information flow. By this stage, most of the content migration should be complete, and all accessibility features should be fully functional. The website’s security protocols must be in place, and testing for responsiveness, performance bottlenecks, and bug fixes should commence.
|
23 – 27 September 2024 |
Final draft of the website |
The consultant is expected to deliver a fully designed, responsive website that is responsive and has zero bugs. Content migration should already be finished, and all accessibility features are fully tested. The website’s security protocols must be in place prior to the launch.
|
28 September 2024 – 27 September 2025 |
Support and maintenance for the website |
The consultant is expected to provide continuous technical support and maintenance for one-year post-launch, which includes regular backups, updating non-CMS editable content such as numbers, texts, and pictures, and integrating small design elements like logos, icons, and photos.
|
QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
The consultant should have:
- Proven experience in web development, design, and support in the international development sector
- Strong experience in developing well-known and widely used open-source platforms
- Knowledge and strong track records in website design, including interface and navigation
- Ability to create visually appealing, user-friendly, and responsive websites
- Strong understanding of SEO best practices
- Experience with implementing robust security protocols and ensuring data protection
- Demonstrated ability to provide ongoing technical support and maintenance
- Demonstrated innovation in creating websites with compelling call-to-action elements
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested vendors are required to submit a proposal outlining a brief work plan and concept of the website, portfolio, and financial proposal to [email protected], with a copy to [email protected] and [email protected] by 5 August 2024.
All submitted applications will be thoroughly and fairly evaluated based on various criteria, including the quality of the website concept, quality of service, and price. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.