Consultant for redesign and development of LUPD website

LUPD Background:

LUPD (Lebanese Union for People with physical disabilities) is a national non-governmental organization. LUPD is committed to advocating for a society built on principles of social justice, human rights, equality, and solidarity. LUPD work is based on the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Respect for difference, dignity and autonomy, and respect for a person’s capacities / Accessibility / Non-discrimination / Participation and inclusion / Equal opportunities for women, men, and everybody.

Founded in 1981, in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War, to advocate for the inclusion, equality, and rights of people with disabilities in Lebanese society. From its very beginnings on Beirut’s sidewalks, LUPD has been a grassroots and non-sectarian organization led by people with disabilities. In the decades since its founding, LUPD has worked to shift government policies and the national discourse on disability from a framework of charity and exclusion to a framework of rights and inclusion.

Along with other civil society and disability rights organizations, the LUPD has been successful in pushing for important advancements and changes around the rights of people with disabilities and the rights of all Lebanese citizens. With our 1200 members and 8 branches throughout Lebanon, we will continue this work until every part of Lebanese society is accessible to and inclusive of all people with disabilities.

Under the project “Disability Monitor” funded by Diakonia, the general goal, is to promote access of people with disabilities to equal opportunities and toward a quality life where their basic needs are fully respected. One of its expected outcomes “Disability rights is being monitored by the media’’ will be achieved through the redesign and development of the LUPD website that ensures this outcome achievement.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the website redesign and development are to:

• Enhance the overall user experience and usability of the website.
• Improve visual design and branding to align with our mission.
• Ensure the website is mobile-responsive and accessible.
• Integrate user-friendly content management systems (CMS) for easy updates.
• Incorporate analytics tools for tracking user engagement and website performance.

About the LUPD website rebuilding project

With over 40 years of productive work, the LUPD has a long history and a wealth of content. We are looking for a team to help us organize this content, design the UX/UI of the website, and rebuild the WordPress website, with a focus on better accessibility.

The website must be launched by December 2024.

Scope of work:

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Initial Assessment:

• Meet with us and our editorial team to learn more about our history and our work, analyse our current content, and devise a plan to aggregate our content throughout the next few months.

• Design Phase:

• After learning about our work, our target audience, and our current content, design the UX/UI, with a focus on compliance with WCAG design standards.
• Development Phase:
• Rebuild our website using WordPress CMS, in compliance with WCAG standards, and migrate/add our content to the new database.

• Accessibility Checklist

• .Creating an accessibility checklist in compliance with the WCAG standards.

• Hosting and maintenance:

• Provide hosting and maintenance for some time not less than 6 months after the launching and training processes.

• Testing and Quality Assurance:

• Conduct comprehensive testing for functionality, usability, and performance.
• Address any issues before launch.

• Launch and Training:

• Support the website launch process.
• Provide training sessions for staff on how to manage the new site.

Required Experience:

The experience required for a consultant to develop and redesign a company's website typically includes:

1. Web Development Skills: Proficiency in coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and familiarity with web development frameworks.
2. UI/UX Design Expertise: Understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles to create a site that is both functional and visually appealing.
3. Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, or Shopify, allowing for efficient content updates and management.
4. Project Management: Skills to manage the project lifecycle, including planning, execution, and post-launch evaluation.
5. Responsive Design Experience: Ability to create designs that are responsive and work seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes.
6. Research Skills: Conducting competitor and market analysis to inform design and functionality decisions.
7. Client Communication: Strong communication skills to gather requirements, present ideas, and provide updates throughout the project.
8. Testing and Analytics: Experience in testing websites for functionality and performance, as well as using analytics tools to track user behavior and website effectiveness.
9. Graphic Design Skills: Basic knowledge of graphic design tools (like Adobe Creative Suite) to create or modify visual elements for the site.
10. A strong understanding of the WCAG standards, with the ability to make an accessible, friendly product/ website with an inclusivity lens.
11. Previous experience building websites for nonprofit organizations is preferred

Having a portfolio that demonstrates successful website projects can also be crucial for establishing credibility and expertise.

Deliverables:

The following deliverables with specific timelines and costs are typically expected:

• Web Design
• Web Development
• Content management
• Detailed specs for hosting and maintenance
• Payment schedule and terms.