Terms of Reference: UX and Interaction design for the CLEAR Global DFAT Marma project

Location: Bangladesh & Remote

Travel: No travel required

Reporting to: Program Manager

Timeframe: September-November 2024 (up to 30 FTE days total)

Application deadline: Rolling

CLEAR Global is an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse team where individuals of all backgrounds collaborate and learn from one another. We believe we can be most effective with diverse experience and expertise in our team. We recruit on merit, actively seek diverse applicant pools and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital or parental status, or sexual orientation, and welcome all types of diversity.

Background

Education in Bangladesh had historically been in Bengali, and there has been limited scope for indigenous children and adults to become acquainted with their mother tongue in written form. In 2010, the government recognised indigenous children’s right to education in their respective mother tongues and updated the National Education Policy with activities to arrange indigenous textbooks and teachers. Since then various initiatives have been taken to implement the policies however the work has not yet reached the desired scale and reach.

CLEAR Global, commissioned by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), has undertaken to investigate language and communication challenges faced by speakers of indigenous languages, focusing on speakers of Marma language in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. A baseline study to better understand the communication needs and challenges of the Marma people in Bangladesh has been carried out, and in parallel, the team has also conducted user research to explore how language technology and inclusive digital solutions can help teachers implement mother tongue education and improve access to government led initiatives (ICT tools) that aim to increase quality of education through online training and skill development for teachers.

Based on both studies we have identified key features and components of a “Marma Language Literacy Educational Tool” (working name) - this is an initiative aimed at supporting teachers and children in learning to read and write in Marma, a language that many speak fluently but are not literate in. The tool will leverage language technology and text-to-speech (TTS) to provide accessible, engaging, and effective educational experiences. The tool must address several challenges, including low literacy rates among native speakers, multilingual classroom settings, and limited internet connectivity and access to devices in both remote and urban areas.

The role

The objective of this consultancy is to design a user-centered prototype of the Marma Language Literacy Educational Tool. The prototype should incorporate TTS features to assist non-literate teachers and students, align with the diverse linguistic needs of a mono- and multilingual classroom, and function effectively in low-connectivity environments and adopt a mobile first approach.

Candidates must be located in Bangladesh and must be fluent in Bangla and English, it is considered a plus if candidates speak Marma but this is not an essential requirement as the project has Marma linguists who can support.

The UX and Interaction Designer will be responsible for:

• Needs Analysis Review: Review existing user research, needs assessments, high level requirements, user personas, and journeys to understand and identify key user needs and pain points.
• Conceptual Design: Develop wireframes, mockups, and user flow diagrams that illustrate the user interface (UI) and experience (UX) for the tool.
• Interaction Design: Design intuitive and accessible interactions that cater to both literate and non-literate users, incorporating TTS and multilingual support.
• Prototype Development: Create an interactive prototype using tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or similar platforms, allowing for usability testing and iteration.
• Validation process: Conduct validation activities such as design reviews with selected project members and stakeholders to gather feedback and make iterative improvements to the design.
• Technical feasibility: engage NLP engineer and web developer in discussions around technical feasibility both from the UI and back-end and NLP (natural language processing) perspective
• Design Documentation: Provide detailed documentation of the design process, including design decisions, stakeholder feedback, technical feasibility assessment (or constraints) and guidelines for developers.

The designer will be expected to work closely with the project team to ensure solid understanding of the assignment, conduct design reviews and collect feedback, give regular updates and engage in continuous communication, attend meetings when required to ensure alignment with the direction of the project and scope of work.

Deliverables

• Reviewed and updated user research insights.
• Wireframes and mockups of key screens.
• Interactive prototype demonstrating core functionalities.
• Report on validation activities and design iterations.
• Report on technical feasibility.
• Comprehensive design documentation and handover to the development team.

Deliverables will be considered finalized only after approval by CLEAR Global commissioning manager.

Requirements

The Designer must have a background in one or more of the following, preferably within Bangladesh:

Required:

• Proven experience in UX and interaction design, particularly in educational technology or similar fields.

• Experience designing for multilingual and low-literacy audiences.

• Strong understanding of designing for low-connectivity environments.

• Ability to conduct and interpret user research and usability testing as well as ideation sessions and scoping workshops.

• Proficiency in design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or similar.

• Experience working with indigenous communities, speakers of marginalized languages, or with other vulnerable populations designing tech for social inclusion

• Familiarity with language technology, including text-to-speech functionalities.

The designer will be expected to provide their own equipment and supplies (laptop, mobile phone, any recording equipment, etc.).

The consultancy is expected to last approximately 10 weeks, with the following key milestones:

• Week 1-2: Onboarding, review of existing materials, and initial requirements and design concepts.
• Week 3-5: Development of wireframes, mockups, and user flows.
• Week 6-7: Validation and technical feasibility assessment
• Week 8-9: Based on feedback and agreement - prototype development and internal review.
• Week 10: Finalization of prototype and design documentation.

Terms and conditions

Payments will be made as follows:

• a payment of 20% of the amount upon contract signing.
• a payment of 20% on delivery of (and approved) wireframes, mockups, and user flows.
• a payment of 60% of the amount upon delivery of all services detailed in these ToR

Payment within 30 days of the reception of the invoice.

How to apply

CLEAR Global will accept offers from individual consultants and consulting firms.

To apply for this consultancy please send the following documents:

1- A technical and financial offer to include:

• a brief description (no more than two sides of A4) of why you are suitable for this position and how you would tackle this challenge
• Examples from relevant past projects with links to any publicly available examples, case studies, or portfolios that demonstrate your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work
• a financial offer, specifying daily fees in US Dollars or Bangladeshi Taka (please specify currency clearly within your offer). Please also state your daily fee in the ‘Desired Salary’ field in the application. Please note that payments will be made via international bank transfer, regardless of quoted currency.

2- Curriculum vitae highlighting experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three professional references.

Please upload the technical and financial offer as one document under “cover letter” and present the CV(s) of the expert(s) proposed in one document under “CV”.

We value authentic, original submissions that reflect your expertise and experience. While we understand the usefulness of AI tools, we strongly prefer genuine documentation created by the applicant, as our team is adept at recognizing AI-generated content.

About CLEAR Global

CLEAR Global helps people get vital information, and be heard, whatever language they speak. We believe that everyone has the right to give and receive information in a language and format they understand. We work with nonprofit partners and a global community of language professionals to build local language translation capacity, and raise awareness of language barriers. Our network of over 100,000 community members translate millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information a year.

Core values

CLEAR Global employees and volunteers passionately believe in the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. CLEAR Global’s mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework:

• Excellence: In communicating humanitarian information in the right language, CLEAR Global is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector.
• Integrity: In believing that every person, whether it’s the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity.
• Empowerment: In using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny.
• Innovation: In recognizing and celebrating the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world.
• Sustainability: In recognizing that meeting our mission requires the establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure.
• Tolerance: In that our staff and volunteers value each other, our partners and our end users, create a supportive work environment, and conduct themselves professionally at all times.