Consultant

Call for Expression of Interest

Develop a Digital Platform to raise awareness about the Vancouver Principles through provision of materials, implementation guidance and tools. To revamp the Dallaire Institute website

1. Background and Rationale

In December 2023, Global Affairs Canada approved a Contribution Agreement with Dalhousie University / Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security (Dallaire Institute) to implement the project: "Promoting the Vancouver Principles in Sub-Saharan Africa (PVPSSA).

This five-year regional project is operating in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The goal of PVPSSA project is to strengthen institutionalization of the Vancouver Principles and enhance the capacities of security sector actors, military, police, and related institutions, in child protection, human rights, and prevention of recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and armed violence.

To enhance project sustainability, the Dallaire Institute will establish a digital platform that consolidates practical guidance, tools, and learnings on the implementation of the Vancouver Principles generated through the PVPSSA project. This platform will enable long-term access to these resources by practitioners, policymakers, and partners beyond the project's lifespan, which will sustain the momentum in the implementation of policy frameworks, including the Vancouver Principles, This digital platform will be housed as a webpage on the Dallaire Institute's organizational website, which currently operates on Squarespace.

2. Objectives of the consultancy

The consultant/consulting firm will deliver a digital platform that:

• Provides an organized repository of technical guidance, tools, lessons learned, case studies, and multimedia resources (documents, videos, infographics, images, audio) on the implementation of the Vancouver Principles.
• Enables practitioners and decision-makers to easily access tailored IEC materials, action planning templates, reporting tools, and implementation resources
• Delivers an integrated digital learning platform that enables learners to interact with learning resources on the implementation of the Vancouver Principles, track progress, engage in interactive activities, and collaborate seamlessly within a single environment.
• Ensures long-term relevance and sustainability through proper integration into the Dallaire Institute's systems, with governance, content refresh processes, and maintenance structures in place.

3.
Scope of Work for the Consultant/Consulting Firm

The Consultant/Consulting Firm will design, develop, and deliver the digital platform and revamp the Dallaire Institute's existing Squarespace website.

3.1 Website Assessment & Planning

• Conduct an audit of the current Squarespace website (design, functionality, content, accessibility, performance).
• Identify risks, constraints, and requirements based on Squarespace's capabilities.
• Determine whether the digital platform can be fully hosted on Squarespace or requires a hybrid external system.
• Prepare a comprehensive project plan with timelines and milestones.

3.2 Design & Development

• Design a modern, professional digital platform aligned with Dallaire Institute branding.
• Redesign existing website pages for improved UX, navigation, consistency, and accessibility.
• Implement responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Integrate accessibility best practices (WCAG compliance).
• Optimize for SEO, performance, and content discoverability.
• Implement the Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for the digital platform

The Consultant/Consulting Firm will implement a four-tier RBAC system:

1. Viewer / Public

2. Access to publicly available materials

3. No access to restricted resources

4. External Partners

5. Access to private but non-sensitive resources

6. No access to government-level reports

7. Government Partners

8. Access to public and private content

9. Access to restricted reports and implementation documents

10. Administrator (Internal Staff)

11. Full access to upload, edit, organize, and publish content

12. User management and platform configuration

The Consultant/Consulting Firm must ensure compatibility of the RBAC model within Squarespace or propose a compliant hybrid solution hosted externally and integrated via subdomain or embed.

3.3 Content & Media

• Update and optimize existing website materials.
• Support integration of new multimedia content (videos, infographics, images).
• Ensure all content follows SEO and accessibility standards.

3.4 Technical Implementation

• Integrate or deploy the RBAC system ensuring secure authentication and navigation.
• Protect sensitive content behind access controls.
• Implement secure user onboarding and management processes.
• Enhance website structure, navigation menus, internal linking, and performance.
• Ensure compatibility across major browsers and devices.
• Apply SSL, encryption, and security updates.

3.5 Testing & Quality Assurance

• Conduct usability, performance, and functionality testing.
• Test all access levels to verify RBAC permissions.
• Fix bugs and ensure a smooth user experience.

3.6 Training & Handover

• Train staff on content management, updates, and RBAC management.
• Provide user manuals and documentation.
• Transfer all assets, credentials, and configuration files.

4. Governance, Roles, and Collaboration

The Consultant/Consulting Firm will report to the Digital Platform Technical Working Group made up of the following members:

• Francois Bisengimana (Overall Lead)
• Hamid Oke Oluwadara (IT Technical Lead)
• Simone Chia (Research and Knowledge Mobilization Lead)
• Anastasiya Romanska (Community Engagement Lead)
• Divine Isimbi (Communications Lead)

The Technical Working Group will coordinate with broader HQ staff and ACOE leadership, PVPSSA core project management team and internal Subject Matter Experts to validate the deliverables produced by the Consultant/Consulting Firm

5. Deliverables of the Consultant/Consulting Firm and key timelines

Key deliverables include:

• Content inventory and content mapping information reviewed and analyzed for alignment with the expected (By 13th March 2026)
• Dallaire Institute Website Assessment & Revamp Planning report completed (By 13th March 2026)
• Dallaire Institute Website Revamp completed (By 10th Apirl 2026)
• Digital Platform Architecture developed (By 29th April 2026)
• Digital Platform Wireframes and Prototype developed (By 8 th May 2026)
• Digital Platform Beta release and testing completed (By 29th May 2026)
• Final launch of the Digital Platform and training of key Dallaire Institute staff conducted (By 30th June 2026)
• Final handover report completed (By 31st July 2026)

6. Qualifications of the Consultant/Consulting Firm

The successful Consultant/Consulting Firm must demonstrate the following requirements:

• Proven experience in web development and redesign, including Squarespace environments.
• Experience implementing RBAC or similar user-tiered access systems.
• Strong understanding of CMS platforms (SquareSpace, WordPress, Drupal).
• Expertise in UX/UI design, accessibility, and SEO.
• Competence in integrating third-party solutions, APIs, and secure authentication systems.
• Portfolio showcasing measurable improvements in usability, engagement, or performance.
• Ability to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces.
• Proven capacity to adapt content visualization with a diversity of audiences including children.
• Understanding branding, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.
• Proven experience to analyze and understand content and communication protocols to maximize user-friendliness of the digital platform, avoid misunderstandings and promote coherence between the content of the Digital Platform and the content existing on other online repositories.

7. Reporting and Meetings

The vendor will provide regular progress updates to the Digital Platform Technical Working Group. Milestone reviews will be scheduled to confirm progress, approve deliverables, and next steps.

8. Acceptance Criteria

The Digital Platform will be accepted when:

• The Dallaire Institute Website is revamped and compatible with the developed Digital Platform.
• Content on the Digital Platform is well-organized and accessible for all identified audiences, including children.
• Navigation and usability meet agreed requirements.
• The Digital Platform is responsive and meets accessibility criteria
• The Digital Platform is live by 30th June 2026 and operationally sustainable.
• Dallaire Institute staff are trained and able to maintain and update the platform.

9. Points of Contact

• Activity Lead: Francois Bisengimana;
• Technical Lead: Hamid Oke Oluwadara;

10. Deadline for submission of Applications

• Interested parties are expected to submit a full application including a technical and financial proposal with a workplan included. The financial proposal should be in USD; Canadian parties are encouraged to submit in Canadian dollars.
• Deadline for submission is January 30th , 2026, please submit full application to both points of contact listed above