National Consultant for Improving Vietnam's National REDD+ Website

TERMS OF REFERENCE:
NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR IMPROVING VIETNAM'S NATIONAL REDD+ WEBSITE

Background and rationale

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) is a mechanism that has been developed through international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will provide results-based financial incentives to developing countries for actions which reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Vietnam has demonstrated considerable interest in REDD+ and has made important progress to date in terms of preparing for REDD+ implementation at both the national and sub-national levels.

SNV, in partnership with the Vietnam REDD+ Office (VRO), is implementing a project titled “Operationalising National Safeguards Requirements for Results-based payments from REDD+”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The project aims to support Vietnam to become eligible for results-based payments, through the establishment of a country safeguard framework, and improve institutional capacity for the implementation of REDD+ safeguards, monitoring and reporting at the national and sub-national levels.

Having access to accurate and up to date information is critical for reasons of transparency and to enable wide stakeholder consultation and participation in REDD+. The Vietnam National REDD+ Website (www.vietnam-redd.org) has been operational since 2011 and is a key resource for individuals and organisations both within Vietnam and abroad interested in the development and implementation of REDD+ in Vietnam. However, with the establishment in March 2018 of the State Steering Committee Office (SSCO) for the National Target Program (NTP) on Sustainable Forest Development for 2016-2020 and REDD+ implementation, there is a need for the website to be updated. The SSCO is responsible for building and managing the database system and organizing information and communication activities on the activities of the Forest Development Program and the REDD + Program. In addition, the website should be improved and upgraded both in terms of website design and interface as well as the addition of several new pages to display relevant information on sustainable forest development activities and REDD+ implementation, including information on the operationalization of REDD+ safeguards in Vietnam.

Therefore, in order to continue to maintain and broadcast a website that is both suitable and updated with modern operating systems and interfaces, SNV will recruit 01 consultant (or firm) to work with the SSCO to improve, update and upgrade the website interface.

Objectives

1.      Update Vietnam’s National REDD+ website in line with the new institutional arrangements for Sustainable Forest Development and REDD+ implementation.
2.      Update Vietnam’s National REDD+ website as a modern and user-friendly interface for sharing information of national and international interest.
3.      To create new pages, spaces or features to share new types of information on REDD+ implementation.

Tasks

Working closely with and under the direction of the Deputy Director of the SSCO and SNV:

• Review the existing National REDD+ website and develop proposals for modernising and improving the user-friendliness of its architectural design and interface.
• Based on the specifications of the SSCO, create a new website, and using existing data, taking into account any needs for new pages/new types of information, redesign the layout of the main home page and subpages, creating new subpages where necessary and ensuring appropriate linkages with the website of the NTP on Sustainable Forest Development.
• Content Migration:  the website project will include content migration.
• Conduct a survey and consult with relevant leading national government and international agencies planning and implementing sustainable forest development and REDD+ activities to ensure the website design and interface has the requisite features and technical specifications, especially concerning the development of new pages or the hosting of new types of information.
• Improve and update the web-database management system to make it more user-friendly. Utilize a content management system (CMS) for improved maintenance, user access control, language versioning, user analytics and version control.
• Utilize Search engine optimization (SEO friendly)
• SSL security: the website must be running SSL protocol (HTTPS)
• Mobile Responsiveness: the website must be designed such that it is scalable for use with mobile devices.
• Integrate data from various back-end services and databases to be published on the website. Displayed content can be in various forms such as text, images, charts, tables, videos and data visualization.
• Social Media Integration:  it is important to have social media sharing buttons to make it easy for visitors to share content.
• Cross-browser Compatibility: the website must be able to be viewed in all types of modern website browsers such as, Chrome, Firefox, Mozilla & Safari.
• Make recommendations for a backup/restoration plan.
• Evaluate current hosting system and make sure that the website is technically sustainable and secure against cyber-attacks (DoS, Phishing, SQLi, etc.). Perform load testing on the web server to evaluate how the website can handle heavy user load.
• Preparation of guidelines for management, maintenance and updating of the website
• Perform other relevant tasks when and as assigned by leaders of the National State Steering Committee Office
• Language: The website is to be designed in Vietnamese and English languages.

Timeframe

The work specified here will be performed between 25 August to 30 October 2018.

Deliverables

• A USB with the content the website.
• Short document proposing new website structure, as basis for consultation/review
• Technical proposal including solutions to be used in the website implementation
• 01 Revised and improved Vietnam REDD+ Website approved by the SSCO
• Guidelines for management, maintenance and updating of the website

Requirements

• Masters’ Degree in Information Technology
• Knowledge of web, HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript programming
• At least 5 years’ experience designing websites
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English

Application

Please send your application letter and CV, together with an indication of your expected fee rate, to [email protected] by 20th August 2018

CVs and proposals received after this date will not be considered.