Case Study - Enterprise data warehouse connecting headquarters and country programs
We built a centralized data warehouse for LWF World Service, connecting 9 country offices with real-time dashboards and automated ETL pipelines.
- Client
- Lutheran World Federation
- Location
- Switzerland
- Services
- Data Management, App Development
- System integrations built
- 8
- Internal projects delivered
- 21
- Dashboards designed
- 8
- Country offices connected
- 9
Client
LWF World Service is the global humanitarian arm of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), operating in 24 countries and delivering humanitarian aid and development programs across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.
Opportunity
LWF World Service had program data spread across tools and 24 country offices. When leadership needed a cross-portfolio view, someone had to pull exports from multiple systems and stitch them together manually. Country offices reported in different formats, at different cadences, and with different levels of detail. They wanted one place to collect, integrate, and analyze program data so that organization-wide reporting could happen in hours rather than weeks.
Approach
This was a multi-year partnership. We approached it in three stages.
First, we took stock. We mapped existing tools and systems, identified gaps, and found where integration and automation could remove manual work and strengthen reporting.
Next, we built the foundation. We designed a data management framework defining how data is collected, integrated, stored, and reported, then backed it with standardized digital forms and clear guidelines so country programs work the same way. We trained staff in selected countries and put protocols in place for device management and GDPR-aligned data handling.
Then we turned data into insight. We built a unified dashboard with Apache Superset, introduced SurveyCTO for mobile data collection, and developed a custom ETL pipeline with Apache Airflow for real-time processing. The result connects the organization's core systems so teams can move from raw field data to usable reporting without manual stitching.
Outcomes
The partnership delivered:
- A centralized data platform with stronger reporting and analytics
- Seamless integration of field data with existing systems for richer program insight
- A unified dashboard that supports real-time decisions across every country office
- Ongoing support for hosting and bespoke systems to keep the platform scalable and sustainable
More than a technical build, this gave LWF World Service a durable foundation for organization-wide analytics and the in-house capability to keep extending it. It was the start of a multi-year partnership that later included user discovery for their project management system and a review of their digital service delivery model.
- Enterprise architecture
- Database management
- Infrastructure hosting
- System integration
Technologies used
- SQL Server
- Apache Airflow
- Apache Superset
- RMarkdown
Partnering with Hikaya has been key to our digital transformation. From strategic guidance to systems development, their support has reshaped the way we work and, as a result, elevated digital literacy across all levels of our organisation.
Global Coordinator for Quality, Systems and Accountability
At Hikaya, we help NGOs and nonprofits worldwide bring scattered data into one trusted place, designing pipelines, integrations, and dashboards that fit your context and stay in your hands.
If your data is spread across tools and country offices and organization-wide reporting is a struggle, the first step is a clear map of where your data lives and how it should flow. Start a conversation with us, or explore how we work from strategy through handover.
