Careers

Terms of reference for the website designer

Introduction

 Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is a non-governmental organsiation established in 2006 with the primary goal of developing a new quality of leadership that is committed to the transformation of people it serves. IST obliges to promote a more just society with an inclusive development approach in Eastern Africa. Over the nineteen years of existence, IST has established its self as a capacity building, innovative and transformative organsiation that empowers community activists especially women with skills and tools to discover and maximize their potential, to initiate own and control development programs that impact on their live hoods.

IST launched its website in 2006 to ensure easy and faster accessibility to all materials related to what they do as an organsiation across the world. To further enhance the existing website and ensure the best experience to users, the organisation is planning to conduct a series upgrades on the website.

Objective

The aim for the new web sections and other WebPages proposed in this TOR is to further promote interaction and collaboration among key users of the site. IST is inviting proposals from reputable and qualified companies with a track record of success in designing and producing digital solutions to develop new templates for the current website. The templates will provide a new look and feel to the web and will unlock the potential functionalities of the current software while displaying the content in a more organized, attractive and user-friendly manner.

Key Deliverables

• Four new sections to be developed and integrated in the IST site.
• Support and maintenance: Administrative and technical support, quality control for a period of 5 months.
• Develop a user manual and deliver a webinar for the support staff and system administrators to perform content upload, system maintenance and administration.
• IST website presents a new visual look and its functionalities are enhanced to provide a better experience to users.
• Full source code including all developed libraries shall be handed over to IST.

Deliverables clause

Once a company is selected, the contract will be amended with a time and materials to capture new specific developments on the site upon request of IST.

Timing and duration of the assignment

• • The duration of the contract will be 1 month, and the expected starting date is 17th, September 2025.
  • The development of the website will be ready in one-month time starting from the date of signing the contract.
  • The user manual, webinar and the maintenance of the new webpages will be done within the same month of the contract.

Briefing arrangements

First meeting will be scheduled for IST team to brief the website developer/ company on the background information to develop each of the requested deliverables.

Reporting relationships and identification of responsibility for assessment of the services/ outputs

The company will work in close consultation and under supervision of the Communications officer, Executive Officer and the Senior Program Officer

They will follow up the design process answering questions related to the documents.

The Communications officer in close consultation with the Executive Director and Senior Program Officer of IST will assess the services and outputs of the company.

Support Provided

IST will grant access to the current IST website code and content including Word Press administration console, all documents and pages, plugins, themes and additional files.

WORK PLAN

Deliverables.

All new developments mentioned in this section will be built in the current IST website operated in WordPress.

New look

• • • • Ensure a consistent visual language on the new site by introducing fixed styles in templates ensuring consistency in fonts, formatting, icons, images, layout techniques.
      • The new templates should guarantee that most recent content on the site is captured automatically in the homepage in an organized way following specific categories, tags another custom taxonomies.
      • The new should be adapted to homepage, sections, subsections and the following components of the site, article template, resource webpage template, publication/guidance webpage template, country story webpage template, and event webpage template.
      • Standard page elements including header, footer, tabs, persistent navigation, contract us, email and page print options should be included in the new templates.
      • All sections and subsection webpage should incorporate functionalities to guarantee the latest information on that section and sub subsection is displayed.
      • Adapt a database of IST website to include new categories to display the information in an organic way.

New sections

The new subsections webpages should incorporate functionalities to guarantee the latest information on that sub-section is displayed( news, resources, publication, guidance, events and stories)

Support and Maintenance

Administrative and technical support, quality control for a period of four months.

Knowledge transfer

Develop a user manual and deliver a webinar for the support staff and system administrators to perform content upload, system maintenance and administration.

Functionalities to include in the new templates

The following features will be guaranteed through the new templates.

• • • • Language options feature in resources and guidance template
      • Social Sharing feature including twitter share by text selection and twitter feed by handle and hash tag
      • Link the site with other platforms
      • Multiple page styles and custom post types.
      • Signup for latest news
      • Responsive design
      • Add feed links
      • Interactive map

Full source code including all developed libraries shall be handed over to IST.

The successful company will participate in a debriefing session with the kit and other programme areas to understand the overall project and expectations.

Base on the debriefing session and TOR, the company will develop a design concept for the site and share a maximum of three proposals with IST team.

Company will adjust concept based on feedback and comments from IST team.

Development of web sections and content upload.

Integration and final approval by IST

Test site before going live.

Required Skills and Experience

• • • • Relevant experience in using different content management systems particularly WordPress.
      • Be a reputable company with at least 5 years of prior experience designing visually appealing and navigation friendly web site.
      • Have excellent knowledge of recent trends in graphic design, web sites, including online video publishing and social media networking.
      • Have Board knowledge of current web development technologies and design tools in the field software and programs including use of HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, Java.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit Technical and Financial proposal and Curriculum Vitae to the Executive Director on Email: isocialtransformation32@gmail.com.  With the subject line: Design and Website Upgrade-IST Website. Not later than Friday, 12th September 2025.

Terms of Reference for External Audit Firm

1. Background

The Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is a non-governmental organization committed to empowering women and youth, particularly in the informal sector, through capacity building, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and promoting gender justice.

To ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with national laws and donor requirements, IST seeks to engage a reputable and qualified external audit firm to conduct annual audits of its financial statements for a period of three years, from 2025 to 2027

2. Objective of the Assignment

The primary objective of the external audit is to enable the auditors to express an independent professional opinion on the financial position of IST and to ensure that the funds received have been used in accordance with the organization’s financial policies, applicable laws, and donor requirements.

3. Scope of Work

The audit will be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and shall include but not be limited to

• Examination of IST’s financial statements (balance sheet, income and expenditure statement, cash flow statements, and notes to the accounts).
• Verification of income received and expenditure incurred for the financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027.
• Review of compliance with donor agreements and applicable statutory regulations (e.g., NGO Act, URA, NSSF).
• Assessment of internal controls and risk management practices.
• Review of procurement and financial management systems for compliance and efficiency.
• Identification of any ineligible expenditures or material weaknesses.
• Issuance of a management letter with recommendations for improvements.

4. Deliverables

The selected audit firm will be expected to provide the following:

• Audited financial statements for each financial year (2025, 2026 and 2027).
• Independent audit opinion on IST’s financial position.
• Management Letter detailing findings, risks, and recommendations.
• Any other reports required by IST or specific donors during the engagement period.

5. Duration and Timelines

• The audit for each financial year must be completed and finalized within 90 days after the close of the respective financial year.
• A planning meeting will be held at the beginning of each audit to agree on timelines and information needs.

6. Qualifications and Experience of the Audit Firm

Interested audit firms must meet the following criteria;

• Must be a legally registered and licensed audit firm in Uganda.
• Demonstrated experience in auditing NGOs or donor-funded organizations for at least five (5) years.
• Proven knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA).
• Capacity to assign a qualified team (e.g., Certified Public Accountants or equivalent).
• Good standing with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU).

7. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested firms should submit a detailed proposal including:

• Company profile and registration certificates.
• Technical proposal outlining understanding of the assignment, methodology, and work plan.
• Financial proposal clearly stating the fee for each year and overall cost.
• List of at least three (3) similar NGOs previously audited with contact references.
• Curriculum vitae of key audit personnel.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

9. Submission Deadline and Contact

The proposals should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and submitted to this email address: isocialtransformation32@gmail.com by 30th May, 2025