Consultancy for Enhancing APHRC Stand-alone Moodle Platform and Course Development at African Population And Health Research Center (APHRC)

Objectives of the Consultancy

• The consultant/firm will be responsible for performing the following activities to meet the project objectives:
• Enhance APHRC’s Virtual Learning Academy Infrastructure: To support the expected growth and expanded outreach of the APHRC Virtual Learning Academy, the consultant will enhance current Moodle based platform to provide seamless integration with back-end systems, improve user experience, streamlined digital payment process and enhance system performance and responsiveness. Therefore, the following activities are expected to be performed to enhance the Virtual Learning Academy Infrastructure:
• Improve user experiences by incorporating relevant corporate branding guidelines, user interface design principles and streamlined processes in both the VLE and the CoP. The VLE should provide a seamless user registration and course enrolment process integrated to APHRC back-end Single Sign-On Platforms.
• Develop custom modules to integrate the VLE to secure digital payment channels including M-PESA and other major payment channels providing seamless payment options for select courses.
• Develop customised mobile applications for the VLE and Community of Practice (in both Android & iOS) providing caching and synchronisation of course content using mobile devices.
• Integrate relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) features and plugins including Generative AI and AI powered searches. The Consultant should also support the acquisition of AI platforms to accelerate course content development and to pilot the application of the AI based course content generating platform in the development of 7 model courses.
• Support acquisition & Installation of relevant software that will enhance the VLE’s teaching and learning experience including plagiarism detection software and others that may be identified during the project implementation.
• Upgrade the Moodle based VLE to the newest version, testing that all the required plugins, extensions and customised modules are able to work with the upgraded version.
• Develop e-learning courses on selected priority thematic areas: Working in collaboration with APHRC’s subject area experts, the consultant/firm will ensure the development of 7 model courses on Grants and Financial Management that will be hosted within the VLE and which will incorporate all the new custom features developed including the use of generative AI in course content production, integration with digital payment and intuitive multimedia components (Audio, Videos and Animations). In achieving this, the consultant/firm will perform the following:
• Apply globally recognised Instructional Design principles to develop curriculums select 7 courses ensuring that the designed courses meet the learning objectives and course outcomes. The consultant should also design effective and interactive assessment strategies that will demonstrate the required learner competencies.
• Provide hand-holding support to content authors to ensure that all challenges that they may have in the development of the materials are addressed.
• Develop a quality assurance checklist that will be used to ensure that the developed model courses meet internationally recognised course design principles and guidelines.
• Using wireframes and other design tools, demonstrate the key features of each model course for approval by APHRC before digital course content development.
• Working with the subject area experts, interactively digitise the courses developed in 2(a) above and through weekly review meetings ensure that the developed courses meet the required quality standards. The courses should also incorporate peer review as part of quality assurance.
• Publish all the developed course materials in APHRC’s Virtual Learning Environment and ensure that the course materials also appear as well-designed courses in the Mobile applications.
• Generate a cost analysis for the Virtual Academy to determine the cost of usage per person based on the current infrastructure.
• Capacity Building Training: Working together with APHRC, identify a smaller team of technical experts who shall be trained on how to use the new functionality developed. In addition to that, train APHRC administrators who will be responsible for administration, management of the users, course content and continuous customisation and support to users and course creators.

Expected Outputs

The Consultants will provide the following deliverables:

• Inception Report: Prepare and submit an inception report that includes a summary of the project's objectives, background information, scope, proposed approach, key stakeholders, project timeline, risks, and assumptions.
• Enhanced Virtual Learning Environment and Community of Practice platforms that can provide a seamless learning experience and supports the use of AI and other emerging technologies.
• Branded Moodle and Community of Practice App accessed via ios and android system.
• Trained ToT users capable of providing 1st level of support to the VLE and CoP environment.
• Minimum of 7 Peer-reviewed course materials developed and hosted within the enhanced VLE.
• Completion report that outlines the achievements, suitability plan and lessons learned.

Experience & Qualifications

• A proven track record of designing, customising, implementing and supporting Moodle based Learning Management Platforms for multinational organizations of similar size to APHRC.
• Demonstratable experience in the use of AI in eLearning course content development and supporting a VLE that uses AI plugins and extensions.
• Ability to demonstrate a minimum of three successful eLearning project implementation for organizations of similar size to APHRC.
• A team of experts with diverse skills, including instructional design, eLearning development, technical support, project management, computer programming, graphic designer, animator and training experts.
• Knowledge of learning management systems and eLearning authoring tools. The consultant should demonstrate good knowledge of new, emerging and evolving digital learning technologies and especially as they relate to Moodle.
• Experience in developing and delivering training programs.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Understanding of adult learning principles and instructional design best practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and subject matter experts.