Consultancy for the Development of a Microsite to Support WUSC’s Refugee Youth Inclusion Initiatives

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Introduction:

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organisation committed to improving the lives of millions of disadvantaged youth worldwide through education, economic opportunities, and empowerment programs.

Through the DREEM project – WUSC serves as Mastercard Foundation’s partner on the inclusion of refugees and displaced persons (RDP) and supports the Foundation and its partners to fulfil their commitment to meaningfully include RDPyoung people in their programs.

WUSC, under the DREEM project, is currently contracting the services of an experienced firm to develop a microsite dedicated to RDP youth inclusion resources.

Objective:

The objective of this consultancy is to develop a microsite that can facilitate knowledge sharing and resource dissemination to stakeholders working towards greater RDP inclusion in education and livelihood sectors. The microsite will be an accessible, bilingual (English and French) platform designed to engage various audiences and improve practices related to refugee inclusion across WUSC projects and Mastercard Foundation’s partners. The site will be hosted by WUSC, and WUSC will maintain ownership of the domain.

The consultant will be tasked with developing a microsite that includes:

• An overview of the current displacement crisis and refugee inclusion context or link to the most up to date information
• Storytelling resources such as blogs, videos, and personal stories from DREEM Youth Advisory Committee members, Mastercard Foundation Scholars, and alumni.
• A filterable database of resources (Research, reports, guides, templates, and other practical tools)
• A filterable database of Refugee-Led Organizations
• Upcoming events
• Upcoming Opportunities

Scope of Work:

The Consultant undertakes to perform the services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity. The following activities will be undertaken:

• Design and develop a user-friendly microsite using WordPress, integrating English and French language functionality.
• Ensure the site is accessible to users with disabilities.
• Develop a system for filtering resources and content based on specific user needs (e.g., higher education institutions, funders, employers).
• Create a content submission framework for external publishers.
• Record a training session to support WUSC in ongoing microsite management and onboarding new users.
• Develop tools for the ongoing maintenance and sustainability of the site, including identifying content updates and ensuring the process for publishing new resources is streamlined.
• Integrate the microsite with WUSC and Mastercard Foundation platforms.

The microsite should incorporate best practices in design and functionality, similar to the structure and usability of Cap-Able’s website, with an emphasis on clean navigation, intuitive resource filtering, and engaging storytelling elements.

Roles and Responsibilities

Consultant/Firm Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and deliver a user-friendly and bilingual microsite using WordPress.
• Ensure the site complies with accessibility standards for users with disabilities, including a responsive design for mobile and desktop users.
• Create a filterable content system to make resources easily navigable for different stakeholder groups (higher education institutions, funders, employers, etc.).
• Develop a content submission framework to allow external publishers to submit relevant resources for inclusion on the site.
• Record a comprehensive training session and ensure sustainability by developing instructions for future site maintenance.
• Collaborate closely with the Project Committee to refine the site’s design, ensuring alignment with the objectives and vision.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any technical issues that may arise during development and testing.
• Maintain regular communication with the Project Committee to report on progress, including submitting weekly or biweekly updates as agreed.
• Assist WUSC in ensuring the microsite is integrated with WUSC and the Mastercard Foundation websites.
• Recommend suitable options for an information-sharing and project management platform tailored to the needs of the DREEM project.

WUSC’s Responsibilities:

• Provide timely feedback, resources, and guidance to the consultant.
• Ensure all necessary content is available and prepared for integration.
• Facilitate access to any additional technical or content expertise needed for development.
• Manage external relationships and communication with other key stakeholders

Project Deliverables:

The Consultant will deliver the following outputs:

• A detailed work plan outlining the key stages, deliverables, and timelines, submitted for review and approval within two weeks of contract commencement.
• A robust system for managing external content submissions, including publisher outreach processes and submission guidelines.
• A Beta version of the site (by April 2025)
• Final web testing and bug resolution completed before the site launch.
• A recorded training session and instruction manual to guide WUSC in maintaining the microsite and onboarding future users.
• Fully functional, user-friendly, and bilingual microsite, designed and developed to meet WUSC’s specifications, including accessibility and responsiveness, ready by June 2, 2025.
• A report outlining at least 3 recommended information-sharing and project management platform options, including an analysis of features, costs, and implementation considerations.

Duration and Level of effort:

A maximum of 45 days has been assigned for the completion of the Consultancy over a period of four (4) months, starting March, 2025

Timeline

Consultant selection process Feb-25

Developer kick-off meeting Mar-25

Refine work plan Mar-25

Web development Mar-April-25

Final web testing May-25

Completion of fully functional, user-friendly, and bilingual microsite 2nd June- 2025

Website launch 20th June- 2025

Post-launch support On demand, Ongoing

Qualification and Experience:

The Consultant/Firm is expected to have the following qualification and experience:

• Proven experience in designing and developing websites on the WordPress platform, including bilingual/multilingual sites.
• Prior experience working with non-profits or development-focused organizations, particularly in creating knowledge-sharing platforms or resource hubs.
• Strong understanding of web accessibility standards and the ability to design sites compliant with these guidelines.
• Experience developing content-rich, filterable databases for various stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated ability to provide training and ongoing technical support, including developing tools for sustainable site maintenance.
• A portfolio showcasing relevant web development projects, particularly in the education or humanitarian sectors.
• Ability to manage projects that require the development of bilingual content (English and French) and address challenges associated with multilingualism.
• Capacity to meet deadlines, manage complex projects, and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.