***CLOSED*** CALL FOR THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – Website Redesign and Maintenance
Background:
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a statutory organization established as a Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020. Since its establishment in 1995 as Belize’s national Conservation Trust Fund, PACT has been at the forefront of conservation efforts in Belize. Sourcing funds nationally and internationally, PACT contributes to financing the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through partnership and collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations that manage Belize’s National Protected Areas System.
Recognizing the global impact of climate change, PACT established its Climate Finance Portfolio in 2022 to support national efforts in building Belize’s climate resilience across all sectors. Through its accreditation to international climate financing institutions, PACT provides access to funding for climate adaptation and mitigation projects. PACT operates under a strategic framework designed to close the financing gap in conservation and climate finance, improve stakeholder engagement, and optimize organizational performance.
PACT’s website serves as its primary digital platform for organizational promotion, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach. The current website requires comprehensive redesign to align with modern web standards, improve user experience across all devices, ensure accessibility compliance, and reflect PACT’s brand development and strategic evolution towards integrated conservation and climate finance operations. The redesign must address existing limitations in user navigation, content organization, and mobile responsiveness while supporting PACT’s expanded mandate and brand development. Ongoing maintenance and content management support will be essential to maintain functionality, security, and relevance across PACT’s diverse stakeholder base.
Objective
Scope of Work
• Perform a comprehensive audit of PACT’s existing website, including structure, usability, SEO performance and security.
• Evaluate hosting environment, CMS compatibility, plugins/extensions, and opportunities for integration with social media, analytics, and newsletter tools.
• Conduct stakeholder consultations with key PACT staff and external stakeholders to define functional needs and design preferences.
• Prepare and submit an Inception Report, outlining:
o Proposed site map and information architecture
o Recommended technical specifications (including multilingual readiness)
o Risk mitigation strategies (e.g., data loss prevention, cyber threats)
o Finalized work plan with milestones and deadlines
The design should take the following into account:
o Mobile-friendly integration and responsiveness.
o Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices.
o User feedback tools, including contact forms and live chat features.
• Deliver a design specification package (fonts, colors, components, layouts) for development.
o Multilingual content management (English and Spanish).
o Migration of initial content with basic SEO optimization.
• Verify accessibility and performance, including page load speed, mobile responsiveness, and compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards (e.g., readability, alt text, contrast).
• Perform basic security and vulnerability scans to ensure the site is protected against common threats and data is safeguarded.
• Gather structured feedback from PACT staff and selected stakeholders on usability, navigation, and content presentation.
• Implement necessary refinements and adjustments based on testing results and feedback to ensure the site is fully functional, user-friendly, and secure before launch.
• Apply final on-page SEO, submit sitemap, and confirm Google indexing.
• Configure redirects from old website URLs to new pages.
• Conduct final testing to ensure functionality, accessibility, security, and performance across devices and browsers.
• Officially launch the redesigned website on PACT’s domain and provide brief launch support to address any immediate issues.
• Conduct at least two training sessions for PACT’s Communications and Marketing Unit on:
o Managing multilingual content
o Analytics review and reporting
o Basic troubleshooting and security checks
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal individual or firm must have:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, website development, or an Information Technology-related field. Equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio of relevant work may be considered.
• At least five (5) years of proven experience in web design and development, and a demonstrated portfolio of previous projects, particularly for NGOs or environmental organizations.
• Familiarity and relevant technical expertise in Content Management Systems (CMS), preferably WordPress.
• Broad knowledge of current web development technologies and design tools, new software, and web programming languages and programs.
• Knowledge of SEO, analytics, website security, and performance optimization tools to ensure optimal site visibility and high relevant traffic from search engines.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, user-centered design, and multilingual site development.
• Experience in developing user manuals and delivering training on website maintenance, content uploading and administration.
• Experience providing web hosting services for long-term projects, with the ability to offer technical support and maintenance for a minimum of one year.
• Strong project management skills and track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.
Procurement Details
Interested parties are asked to submit a signed letter of interest and a detailed proposal for the deliverables. The proposal should include methodology, work schedule, team composition with qualifications and relevant years of experience, and a portfolio of previous projects. A financial proposal shall also be submitted.
Expressions of Interest, including technical and financial proposals, should be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15th, 2025 to:
Mr. Radin Santos
Procurement Officer
Protected Areas Conservation Trust
Re: Expression of Interest: Website Redesign and Maintenance
Soft copies should be sent via email to procurementofficer@pactbelize.org and copies to cmmanager@pactbelize.org.
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PACT is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against protected characteristics (gender, age, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability).
PACT is not liable for any costs incurred by Consulting Teams in submission of their application.