Grameen Foundation

Summary The project involves working on the South Asian Microfinance Network’s (SAMN) existing “Knowledge Exchange Platform” to improve information integration, convergence, analysis, interaction and dissemination. This will help in better resource management within SAMN leading to improved productivity. Preferred volunteer skills: knowledge of website development tools (php, mysql, droopal and data-base management) and online creative design and communications. The project can be conducted remotely. Prefer a team of 2 volunteers. Background The South Asian Microfinance Network (SAMN) is a regional microfinance network based in India which aims at enhancing capacity, financing and regional dialogue in South Asia’s microfinance sector . Core activities of SAMN are a) enhancing collaboration and cooperation among national networks; b) facilitating regional exchange and dialogue through knowledge sharing and research and c) providing technical assistance and financing facilitation for Tier II partner MFIs. This project fits within SAMN’s focus area of Regional Exchange and Dialogue. The web-based Knowledge Exchange Platform will allow stakeholders to gather information about South Asia’s microfinance sector and share their own experiences to improve learning within the sector; thereby improving the capacity of the microfinance sector in the region to replicate, innovate and adopt best practices. SAMN’s Regional Office in Delhi will administer this project. Current Challenges: Challenge #1 : Information on South Asia’s microfinance sector which is available on SAMN’s website is in the form of static pages. The website lacks the capacity to automatically route or converge pertinent information, either from within the website or from other relevant external websites on these pages. How will this project address the challenge? The project will modify the website’s current design code to include capability of ‘word search’ and integration with external websites. This will allow visitors to have access to a broader set of relevant articles and resources on a single page. Challenge #2: Each SAMN team member in different countries collects external resources for reading and research which might be relevant for others. There is no centralized resource centre where these resources can be properly indexed and stored for future reference and easy sharing. How will this project address the challenge? The project will create a server based resource centre within SAMN’s website. SAMN staff will have login based access to this resource centre to add, upload, download and read documents from the resource centre. The Resource centre will have a range of resources categorized across thematic areas. Challenge # 3: The present website does not have the ability to measure the usefulness of its content or resources for users visiting the website. How will this project address the challenge? The project will build a performance monitoring mechanism in the website. This will allow monthly tracking and trend analysis of number of visits, downloads, subscriptions, requests to unsubscribe, news/events submissions etc. Challenge # 4: There is potential to improve the website’s user-friendliness and design to make it more attractive and allow easier navigation and search How will this project address the challenge? The project will change the website’s design as well as navigation and search options Project Description and Objectives This specific project will address Knowledge Management Issues – internal and external for better information collection, interaction, convergence, analysis and dissemination. The volunteer(s) will be expected to: (a) Work on the existing website design code to improve functionality of the website as mentioned above; (b) Create a login based resource centre where designated SAMN team members will have the right to upload and download documents across various thematic areas; (c) Add a feature in the website that will allow generation of monthly reports showing number of website hits, number of downloads, most read articles, number of requests to subscribe/unsubscribe etc; and (d) Improve on current design of the website to make it more attractive and user friendly to navigate. Volunteer Deliverables and Timeline: 1st week: Develop Requirements Specific Document (RSD) based on ToR 2nd-3rd week: Modify the website’s current design code to include capability of ‘word search’ and integration with external websites. 4th week: Develop login based resource centre 5th week: Develop monthly performance monitoring mechanism on the website to measure number of website hits, analyze downloads and most read articles and compare trends 6th week : Improve the website’s design and user friendliness to make it more attractive and easier to navigate 7th-8th week: Complete quality check and final handover Volunteer Requirements South Asian Microfinance Network (SAMN) will need a team of two volunteers. One volunteer should ideally have a technical background in CMS, php, mysql, drupal as SAMN’s current website has been developed using these technologies and platform. The second volunteer would ideally have experience in online creative design and communications. .Volunteers will be given access to admin rights and original source code of the website. Project Duration and Location Expected project duration is 8 weeks. The work may take place remotely with coordination over e-mail and phone. Expected Results/Impact Accomplishment of project deliverables is expected to: (a) Improve information sharing and learning for microfinance stakeholders visiting the website; (b) Lead to more efficient resource usage and sharing within SAMN staff which will improve productivity; (c) Increase ability to evaluate the performance of SAMN’s website and its content and take corrective actions; and (d) Improve website design for SAMN leading to improved visibility. Please express your interest in this project by selecting it in your online application.