Web Development Support for Freedom House’s Program in Moldova

Our Mission:
Freedom House is a U.S.-based independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world. Today, as more than two billion people live under oppressive rule, Freedom House speaks out against the main threats to democracy and empowers citizens to exercise their fundamental rights. We analyze the challenges to freedom; advocate for greater political and civil liberties; and support frontline activists to defend human rights and promote democratic change. Founded in 1941, Freedom House was the first American organization to champion the advancement of freedom globally.

Consultancy Overview: 
Freedom House is soliciting applications for a web developer based in the Republic of Moldova. The web developer will design a basic, user-friendly, and cost-effective web platform, which will be an integral part of an innovative activity under a new U.S. Department of State-funded program implemented by Freedom House. The primary objective for the platform is to host two large thematic hack-a-thon events in 2017 focused around seven pre-identified issues. Beyond the hack-a-thons, the online platform will be used to host ongoing, moderated online discussions on each of the seven topics.

Requirements for the Web Platform:

 1.1 The platform should have a very simple, clean interface in neutral colors. Animation should be minimal.

 1.2 The platform must have capability to easily switch between Romanian, Russian, and English.

 1.3 The core function of the platform is the ability to post “solutions” (responses) to pre-identified issues (original posts).

 1.4 The platform must be able to support moderated online discussions. For each response posting, there will be an “up-vote” and “down-vote” feature so that data can be collected to assess the overall public rating of proposed solutions in addition to providing commentary.

 1.5 The platform should support automatic visual ranking of online discussions based on up/down votes or volume of participation.

 1.6 The platform should be developed for computer interface, but be accessible on Android and iOS devices including tablets, as well as support older operating system versions (Android 2.3+, iOS 6.x).

 1.7 The platform should feature social sharing capability enabling the user to send the current article to social networks, e-mail it, save as an individual file, etc.

 1.8 The platform should have a search function that can store the history with an option to quickly go to previous search results.

 1.9 Priority will be given to cost-effective solutions that make efficient use of existing technological resources. Use of open-source platforms is strongly encouraged.

Application Requirements:
All interested parties must submit a proposalbudget, timeline, curriculum vitae, and portfolio to eurasia@freedomhouse.org by January 1, 2017. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Submission of a response to the RFP does not bind Freedom House to engage the consultant to provide the requested services. The bidding party is solely responsible for the costs it incurs in responding to this request for proposal.