TERMS OF REFERENCE – CONSULTANCY FOR MOODLE UPGRADE AND MIGRATION

Background

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO), in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

APHRC’s Virtual Academy supports capacity-strengthening initiatives at the Center, and aims to reach a wider audience by offering a range of accessible, flexible, and quality courses and programs that support individual capacity-building initiatives, high-quality research evidence generation and uptake, and Africa’s self-sufficiency in research and development.

As part of scaling of the Virtual Academy (VA) infrastructure, APHRC seeks to recruit a consultant who will help upgrade the Moodle system to the latest version and migrate the infrastructure to our local data center.

Roles and responsibilities

The specific tasks of the consultant will comprise the following deliverables:

• Conduct a gap analysis of technical performance, security features, and user experience of the current Virtual Academy infrastructure.
• Update the plugins that are due for upgrade after testing the compatibility.
• Upgrade Moodle Platform to the latest Moodle version (Version 4.1) and test functionality.
• Upgrade the theme to adapt to APHRC’s brand colors.
• Email integration.
• Install, setup and migrate the Virtual Academy infrastructure and resources to the local datacenter with downtime minimization, data integrity, and security measures taken into consideration.
• Rollout Virtual Academy infrastructure and collect feedback on the functionality of the Moodle platform.
• Conduct capacity building to the Virtual Academy staff on Moodle administration, advanced troubleshooting, or customizations.

Key competencies

• Proven working experience with development of Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) and Word Press.
• Experience with Moodle’s accessibility features and standards, ensuring that the platform is inclusive for all users.
• Experience with using Databases in Learning Management System including MySQL and PHP scripting languages.
• Experience in using C-Panel and Virtual Private Servers (VPS).
• Experience in cloud and local data systems.
• Experience in integrating AI and ChatGPT on the Moodle platform.
• Good knowledge and use of new and evolving technologies and digital platforms.
• Ability to work with a team methodically, meet deadlines, and incorporate changes swiftly.
• Excellent project management and delivery skills.
• Excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in IT related courses.
• Experience in curriculum development using Moodle Learning Management System, Server management, Programming.

Duration of assignment

The assignment will be for two months upon agreeing on the commencement date.

How to apply

Interested consultants should submit their bids by April 19, 2024  via email to [email protected] and a copy to  [email protected], with the subject line titled ‘Consultancy for Moodle Upgrade and Migration – 2024’.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  The application should be addressed to:

The Human Resources Officer

African Population and Health Research Center, Inc.

APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru

P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Website: www.aphrc.org

Special Notice

APHRC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process.