Executive Summary
This proposal presents a thorough analysis of the current ASCOA website (ascoa-cm.org) and outlines actionable recommendations to strengthen the organization's digital presence. Additionally, it provides a detailed plan for creating a dedicated website for the Africa Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution Conference (AMDPPC).
After a comprehensive review of the existing website, I identified several critical areas that need attention, including performance optimization, mobile responsiveness, content architecture, SEO, and donor engagement tools. The recommendations in this proposal aim to transform the ASCOA website into a modern, professional platform that effectively communicates the organization's mission and impact.
For the conference website, I propose a purpose-built platform featuring online registration, speaker profiles, agenda management, and real-time updates -- designed to attract international participants and establish the AMDPPC as a premier event on environmental conservation in Africa.
Both prototypes are included as live, working demonstrations alongside this proposal.
Current Website Analysis
The current ASCOA website at ascoa-cm.org is built on WordPress and serves as the primary digital presence for the organization. While it contains valuable content about ASCOA's mission and programs, there are significant opportunities for improvement across several dimensions:
What works well:
- Clear organizational mission statement
- Information about key programs and initiatives
- Contact information is present
- Subdomain approach for the Beach Cleanup Day event
Technology: WordPress CMS with standard themes. The site uses traditional page-based architecture with basic plugin support for forms and social media integration.
Identified Issues (Prioritized)
Below are the key issues identified during the review, organized by priority level:
Poor Mobile Responsiveness
The current website does not adapt properly to mobile devices. Navigation menus overflow, images are not responsive, and text readability suffers on smaller screens. With over 60% of African internet users accessing the web via mobile, this is a critical issue.
Slow Page Load Times
Unoptimized images, excessive plugin usage, and lack of caching result in slow load times. This directly impacts user engagement and search engine rankings, especially for users in regions with limited bandwidth.
No Online Donation System
There is no integrated donation functionality. As an NGO, the ability to accept online donations is essential for sustainability and should be prominently featured on every page.
Weak SEO Implementation
Missing meta descriptions, unoptimized headings, no structured data markup, and missing alt text on images. The site is not effectively reaching potential supporters through organic search.
Outdated Content Architecture
The information hierarchy lacks clear structure. Key content like impact statistics, success stories, and calls to action are buried or missing. Visitors cannot quickly understand ASCOA's impact.
No Impact Dashboard / Metrics
There are no visible impact numbers, counters, or data visualizations. Donors and partners need to see measurable results to build trust and justify support.
Inconsistent Visual Identity
Typography, color usage, and spacing are inconsistent across pages. A unified design system would strengthen brand recognition and professionalism.
Limited Multilingual Support
As an organization operating in Cameroon (French/English bilingual country) with international reach, the website should offer at least English and French versions of key content.
Recommendations for the ASCOA Website
Based on the analysis above, here are my detailed recommendations for improving the ASCOA website:
Mobile-First Redesign
Rebuild the site with a responsive, mobile-first approach. All layouts, navigation, and media should adapt fluidly to any screen size from 320px to 4K displays.
Performance Optimization
Implement image optimization (WebP format, lazy loading), minify CSS/JS, enable caching, use a CDN. Target Google PageSpeed score of 90+ on mobile.
Integrated Donation System
Add secure online donation with Stripe/PayPal integration. Include recurring donation options, donor recognition wall, and transparent financial reporting.
SEO Overhaul
Implement comprehensive SEO: structured data markup, optimized meta tags, XML sitemap, keyword strategy targeting environmental and NGO-related terms for Cameroon and Africa.
Impact Dashboard
Create a dedicated impact section with animated counters, data visualizations, and an interactive map showing project locations across Cameroon and Africa.
Volunteer Portal
Build a volunteer management system with online registration, event sign-ups, hour tracking, and a community forum for volunteers to connect and share experiences.
Blog & News Section
Create a dynamic blog with categories, author profiles, and social sharing. Regular content updates will improve SEO, engage the community, and showcase ongoing work.
Multilingual Support
Add French and English language toggle with proper hreflang tags. Prioritize key pages first: Home, About, Programs, Donate, and Contact.
Conference Website Structure & Design
The Africa Marine Debris & Plastic Pollution Conference (AMDPPC) website should be a standalone, purpose-built platform that conveys the gravity of the issue while inspiring action. Here is the recommended page structure:
Home / Landing Page
Hero with event date/location countdown, key statistics on marine debris in Africa, prominent CTA for registration, featured speakers carousel, and sponsor logos.
About the Conference
Mission and objectives, history of the event, organizing committee, partner organizations, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals alignment.
Speakers & Panelists
Individual speaker profile pages with photo, bio, affiliation, presentation title and abstract. Filterable by country, topic, and session type.
Program & Schedule
Interactive multi-day agenda with session tracks, time zones, room assignments. Downloadable PDF version. Personal schedule builder for attendees.
Registration
Online registration with multiple ticket tiers (Standard, Premium, Student/NGO). Secure payment processing. Group registration discounts. Early bird pricing.
Call for Papers / Abstracts
Online submission portal with guidelines, deadlines, topic categories. Peer review status tracking for submitted papers.
Venue & Travel
Interactive map, accommodation recommendations with negotiated rates, visa information, local transportation guide, and weather advisory.
Sponsorship & Exhibition
Sponsorship tiers with benefits, exhibition booth information, media partnership opportunities. Online sponsorship inquiry form.
News & Updates
Conference blog with regular updates, press releases, media coverage. Newsletter subscription for attendees and interested parties.
Contact & FAQ
Dedicated contact forms for different inquiry types (registration, sponsorship, media). Comprehensive FAQ section. Live chat support during registration periods.
Key Features Recommended:
- Real-time countdown timer to conference date
- Multi-language support (English, French, Portuguese)
- Integration with email marketing (Mailchimp/SendGrid)
- Social media live feed and sharing capabilities
- Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)
- Analytics dashboard for organizers
- Mobile app companion or PWA for on-site use
- Live streaming integration for virtual attendees
Proposed Technical Stack
I recommend the following modern technology stack, chosen for performance, scalability, and ease of maintenance:
Next.js / React
Frontend Framework
Tailwind CSS
Styling & Design System
Node.js
Backend Runtime
PostgreSQL
Database
Stripe / PayPal
Payment Processing
Vercel
Hosting & CDN
Supabase
Auth & Realtime
Resend
Transactional Email
Why this stack? Next.js provides server-side rendering for excellent SEO, fast load times, and a great developer experience. Tailwind CSS ensures consistent, maintainable styling. Vercel offers global edge deployment with automatic scaling -- ideal for handling conference registration traffic spikes. Supabase provides authentication and real-time features without the complexity of managing a separate backend.
Portfolio & Previous Work
Below are examples of websites and projects I have previously built or managed, demonstrating my experience with similar organizations and event platforms:
ASCOA Website Redesign
Complete redesign prototype for ASCOA with modern UI, mobile responsiveness, impact dashboard, and donation integration.
View Prototype →Conference Website
Purpose-built conference website with registration, speakers, schedule, and venue information for AMDPPC 2026.
View Prototype →Full-Stack Projects
Experience building responsive websites, web applications, e-commerce platforms, and content management systems for various clients.
Implementation Timeline
Below is a proposed timeline for executing both the ASCOA website improvements and the conference website development:
Discovery & Planning
Stakeholder interviews, content audit, information architecture, wireframes, and design system creation. Define all requirements and success metrics.
ASCOA Website Redesign
Design and develop the improved ASCOA main website. Mobile-first implementation, SEO optimization, donation system integration, and content migration.
Conference Website Development
Build the AMDPPC conference website with all proposed features: registration system, speaker management, schedule builder, and payment processing.
Testing & Quality Assurance
Cross-browser testing, mobile testing, accessibility audit, performance optimization, security review, and user acceptance testing with ASCOA team.
Launch & Handover
Deployment to production, DNS configuration, SSL certificates, analytics setup, team training, and documentation handover. Ongoing support plan activation.
Conclusion
I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to ASCOA's digital transformation. The recommendations in this proposal are designed to not only address the current shortcomings of the website but to position ASCOA as a leader in digital engagement among environmental organizations in Africa.
The included prototypes for both the ASCOA website redesign and the AMDPPC conference website demonstrate my technical capabilities and design vision. I am committed to delivering high-quality work that aligns with ASCOA's mission of addressing critical community and environmental issues.
I look forward to discussing these recommendations further and collaborating with the ASCOA team to bring this vision to life.
Jailson da Silva Brito
Web Developer & Volunteer, ASCOA
2 March 2026