Transparency International is seeking a consultant to develop a website for an anti corruption coalition.

Background:

The Coalition of Civil Society Friends of the UNCAC is a network of more than 50 civil society organisations (CSOs) established in August 2006, committed to promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the UNCAC. It aims to mobilise broad civil society support for UNCAC and to facilitate strong civil society action at national, regional and international level in support of UNCAC.

The Coalition is open to all organisations and individuals committed to these goals The breadth of UNCAC means that its framework is relevant for a wide range of CSOs, including groups working in the areas of human rights, labour rights, governance, economic development, environment and private sector accountability.

So far, the coalition has been communicating via a Yahoo Group. However, more sophisticated needs demand a new platform, which incorporates a wider range of features. This will NOT be a social media site, but will utilize some of the common aspects of such a deployment

Objectives:

This website will provide a platform

• To exchange ideas and information among members of the
• To highlight the work of the coalition vis a vis the public
• To help mobilize the coalition (by organizing campaigns, letter writing appeals, sharing information to lobby governments)
• To offer an online meeting and discussion point for the coalition
• To present the public the wide range of activities the members of the coalition are involved in.

Basic Features

The construction and development of the site will include:

• Basic set up for a multilingual website (minimum: English, French, Spanish) which will be developed further in the near future. The website structure should consider a multilingual site, from the point of view of the structure, but the content and actual translation of the different versions will be added later
• Document library including
• Documents in all formats (word, excel, pdf) to act as an online resource library for members.
• Audio and Audio visual media presentations
• Advanced email facility
• From user to user (using their own email addresses, this website/domain will not be providing any custom email, but will be using the email address of the users)
• From website administrators to the whole user list
• Newsletter from website administrators to the members
• Blog / Forum feature
• Members of the website should have a space to exchange ideas and opinions in a forum, with a search function for topics discussed.
• This feature should enable searching through posted topics.
• Database with searchable member directory, with options for members to input information about their organizations and their work.
• Calendar of Events
• Members should be able to contribute their own dates to the event, and send invitations to other members.
• Display of news (posted by members of the website)
• Links section
• Newsletter feature: where members of the coalition can subscribe to a regular newsletter sent.
• RSS Feeds for users to receive updated news every time a section or a page is changed.
• Establishment of at least three website administrators, with capability to make changes and support the process.
• The administrator accounts need to have full system privileges, including the ability to create additional administrative accounts.

Technical requirements

• Use of open source content management system Joomla! Version 1.5.x
• Domain Name Registration
• ISP hosting space (in previous consultation with TI)
• Placement of logo and branding elements
• Presentation of a minimum of 3 design options.

Deliverables:

All work will be done remotely. Consultation will take place via email or phone. At the end of the contract, the consultant will be asked to provide an online working website and technical data on:

• Webhosting arrangements, including all log/in information
• Domain registration documentation.
• Basic written instructions for website administrators and users on how to use the website.

IMPORTANT: this is to be a self sustaining website after delivery, the developer should provide a service level agreement covering hosting, admin of the host, and be available for support or additional development.

Timeline

• Selection of consultant in first week of December.
• First working prototype ready for a soft launch in January 2009.
• The final launch will be in February 2009.
• The consultant will need to implement changes needed to the prototype to finalise the prototype and be available for a period of time for support after the launch

Applications

Submissions should include

• an introduction letter with references and links to other websites built.
• curriculum vita
• a bid estimating costs for the development of a project with the technical specifications mentioned above.

Bids should be sent per email to TI by Wednesday 3 December to the following address: coalitionwebsite@transparency.org.

The International Secretariat of Transparency International (TI), the leading global coalition against corruption, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced education management specialist to help review “National assessment reports” produced by the seven TI National Chapters involved in its “Africa Education Watch” programme, and contribute to the writing of a “Regional overview and analysis” based on these national reports, as well as on the results of desk studies and surveys on corruption in primary education conducted in the seven countries.

Background

Transparency International (TI) is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 90 Chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, Germany (TI-S), TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.

TI national chapters in seven African countries (Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda), in cooperation with TI-S, are currently engaged in a programme on corruption in the primary education sector – “Africa Education Watch” (AEW) – aimed at identifying how corruption impacts service delivery in this sector. The programme seeks to assess waste, leakages and corruption in the education sector, and to improve transparency and accountability in the use of primary education resources by strengthening demand for policy reform and improved service delivery. It started in July 2007 and will run until June 2010.

In the first phase of the programme, research was undertaken by TI national chapters in each of the participating countries, including a desk study of budgetary procedures and financial flows in the sector. This was followed by a major survey in each country, which included polling of at least 1’000 primary school users (parents), providers (district administrators/education officers, school headteachers) from at least 60 different schools. Where possible other pertinent stakeholders such as chairpersons of School management committees and Parent-Teacher Associations were also approached.

National assessment reports analysing the data collected with a view to highlight problematic areas and develop practical solutions are currently being prepared by the TI National Chapters engaged in this programme. Results of this desk and field research and subsequent analysis will feed into national advocacy campaigns addressing governance and especially corruption issues that have been identified as affecting efficient delivery of quality primary education in the programme countries.

Summary

To help review the “Africa Education Watch - National assessment reports” of the seven National Chapters participating in the programme, and then produce a “Regional overview and analysis” based on these reports as well as the results of the desk studies and surveys conducted in the framework of this programme, TI is seeking a highly motivated and experienced education management specialist .

Assisting TI-S in the review of the draft “National assessment reports” for each of the programme countries, the education management specialist shall first provide independent advice on the relevance, soundness and appropriateness of the analyses and conclusions contained therein. Consequently, the education management specialist shall contribute to the writing of a regional overview paper, gathering the key findings of the seven reports and presenting regional cross-cutting issues, as well as help TI formulate regional policy recommendations and key advocacy messages.

Profile

• Experienced empirical researcher with detailed knowledge of education systems in Africa, and particularly the primary education sector;
• Proven record of applied social science research;
• Expertise on decentralisation of education and/or knowledge of governance/corruption issues;
• Expertise on public services delivery and applied budget monitoring desirable;
• Fluency in either English or French, with very good skills in the other language;
• Willingness and ability to travel to Berlin for consultation with TI-S if required.

Timeframe and tasks

• To revise and provide advice on the relevance, soundness and appropriateness of the analyses and conclusions of the seven “National assessment reports” (December 08 and January 09)
• To write a regional overview paper, gathering the key findings of the seven reports and presenting regional cross-cutting issues, as well as help TI formulate policy recommendations and key advocacy messages (December 08 to February 09).

The contract would run from December 2008 to March 2009. The estimated dedicated effort is 30 days.

Applications:

Please send a CV and cover letter (in English or French, explaining your interest in the position, highlighting relevant experience), as well as expected rates to educationjob@transparency.org.

For more information, please write to Mr Stéphane Stassen at sstassen@transparency.org.

Closing date: 8 December 2008