Strengthening Web Development Workflows and Cloud Infrastructure for the International Food Policy Research Institute

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries.  Its communications and knowledge management strategy includes developing and publishing a variety of digital products, including open datasets, online spatial analysis tools, and research repositories. ​  WolfeReiter is working with IFPRI to implement best practices in web application development and hosting, improved Git-based developer workflows, and more secure configuration of its cloud-based Linux hosting infrastructure.

Like many mission-focused nonprofits, much of IFPRI's work is organized and funded at the project level, so its digital products present governance challenges.  Promulgating centralized standards for application lifecycle planning and security requires promoting awareness of these practices across a variety divisions and geographic locations and effectively allocating responsibilities for application and platform maintenance between IT and knowledge management teams.  WolfeReiter is working closely with both the IT and communications / KM leadership to ensure that governance tools and the right constellation of human resources are organized to keep online assets updated, secure, and performing reliably for a global audience.

Photo Credit: Milo Mitchell / International Food Policy Research Institute / 2014