Regional Aids Training Network: Training Information Hub (HIT) & other website improvements.

Introduction:

The Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) is an international non-profit organization with operations in Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) region.

RATN is a consortium of training and capacity building institutions collaborating on a mission to strengthen the capacity of relevant individuals, organizations and other stakeholders to effectively respond to STIs/HIV/AIDS. Currently RATN has 30 institutions that are full members spread across 11 countries in ESA region.

RATN’s work focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa which still remains the epicenter of the global HIV and AIDS epidemic. This has led to intensified effort to expand access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Decision makers, mid-level mangers and trainers in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region still feel inadequately prepared to address the growing challenge of HIV/AIDS hence the need to undergo skills training and upgrading.

As health workers and trainers realize their inadequacy in dealing with HIV/AIDS, more are seeking for information on courses that they could undertake to upgrade their skills in dealing with the emerging issues on HIV/AIDS.

The Training and Information HUB (HIT): As the demand for Information on training resources in the ESA increased, RATN developed a Training Information Hub (HIT) in 2007.

Terms of Reference.

Objectives: HIT is a web-based source of information on opportunities on HIV and AIDS training, scholarships, jobs among others. It can be accessed via the RATN website www.ratn.org/hit

HITS objective is to provide:

• access to training opportunities on HIV and AIDS in ESA offered by RATN members;
• access to training opportunities on HIV and AIDS in ESA and beyond offered by other organizations;
• access to scholarship opportunities on training and conferences on HIV and AIDS;
• access to information on upcoming international conferences on HIV and AIDS;
• access to employment opportunities in HIV and AIDS
• access to funding opportunities for HIV and AIDS programmes
• Access to e-resources on HIV/AIDS.

Target:

• STI/HIV and AIDS workers, managers and specialists (at community, national and regional levels) looking for training opportunities;
• STI/HIV and AIDS workers, managers and specialists (at community, national and regional levels) looking for electronic resources;
• Graduates of health institutions seeking for employment opportunities in the areas of HIV and AIDS;
• Policy makers who want to attend international conferences on HIV and AIDS;
• Health workers searching for scholarship opportunities for training and conferences;
• Programme Officers in NGOs looking for funding opportunities.

Execution of HIT: The information listed on the HIT database are sourced for, reviewed and continuously updated for easy access by users. RATN MIs are encouraged to market their programmes through HIT so that their programmes are not only available to clients within their countries but also within and beyond the region.

Next Step: Since it’s initiation in 2007, there has been demand for more information besides training opportunities hence the need to review it with the aim of improving the content to adjust to emerging needs.

The current plan is to transform the existing www.ratn.org/hit to a sub-domain namely www.hit.ratn.org so as increase its flexibility to be responsive to emerging needs and enhance its visibility.

It is against this backdrop that the consultant/company shall therefore achieve the following.

1. Transform the existing www.ratn.org/hit to a sub-domain namely www.hit.ratn.org which:-

a) Will have a better/different template that is responsive to the various components of hit and to include new resource categories; such as journals, HIV funding opportunities, dictionaries, guidelines, training photo gallery, recent RATN training testimonials/experiences, alumni registration,

b) Provide linkages with other institutions/websites of a similar nature. Ensure that HIT acts as a conduit of information and provide comprehensive tracking of accesses by source, by type over a period of time.

c) Scalable to accommodate new components as they arise

d) Allow submission of resources/courses/scholarships/Resource persons/Success stories/Best Practice/Competitions etc by registered and approved users. These resources will be reviewed internally before being published. However there should be provision to easily turn off this feature.

e) Provide a comprehensive tracking option with graphical representation. This should have the ability to provide information on number and profile of visitors, hits etc during specified periods of time and not just as a cumulative figure.

f) Develop a directory of information providers and funding opportunities

g) Link RATN courses to the application form.

h) Include a friendly search function for various components: Courses, Alumni, Funding, and Resource etc.

i) Include a photo gallery

j) Include a section for Alumni to register.

k) A section for trainers/trainees to submit their training experiences; this would serve as testimonials.

l) Include a friendly forum for online discussions.

2. Development of a mobile phone version of the RATN website.

3. Make enhancements to the current website to ensure load speeds decrease by up-to 40%.

4. Upgrading the current overall RATN website to Joomla version 1.7; note that the new sub domain should also be developed using Joomla version 1.7

5. Incorporate a section to advertise Featured materials i.e. “featured course” & “featured resource”. With an option to “recommend a course” or “recommend a resource” to a friend.

6. Add automatic feature to show “most popular course” or “most popular resource”

7. Add automatic feature for “latest course”, “latest resource” etc.

Deliverables:

Deliverables for this project include:

1. Functional Specification Document
2. Technical specifications
3. Work break down structure with deliverables details
4. Initial working prototype with complete features demo
5. A complete and successfully running sub domain, free of any hick-ups and bugs
6. All data and reports generated during software development
7. User and administrative manuals
8. Offer support for 6 months after delivery of final version

Experience:

The consultant should demonstrate unmatched experience in website development.

The consultant should demonstrate experience in successful implementation of similar projects and electronic hubs.

How to Apply:

Eligible and interested consultants should send their applications including references on related previous work by email to vacancies@ratn.org.

The application should also be accompanied with a quotation for the work including expected costs and duration for the project.

Deadlines:

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 3rd October 2011 at noon.

Only successful applicants will be contacted and will then be expected to make presentations on how they would undertake the project.

These presentations must be made by 5th October 2011.

The selected company/consultant will be expected to embark on the project immediately

For more information: www.ratn.org