Open-Access Evidence Hub & Database Platform
Kentech-U partnered with 3ie to build an open-access, web-based evidence hub that helps policymakers, researchers, and practitioners cut through misinformation and rely on rigorously validated research.
Our Client
The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing evidence-informed, equitable, and sustainable development. 3ie funds, produces, quality-assures, and synthesizes rigorous research to evaluate what works, for whom, why, and at what cost—particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Registered in the United States, 3ie operates internationally with offices in New Delhi, London, and Washington, DC, supporting governments, institutions, and practitioners seeking high-quality evidence to improve outcomes for people living in poverty.
The Goal
Kentech-U was engaged to design and build an open-access, searchable web platform that would make 3ie’s extensive research library easy to navigate for a broad, global audience.
The platform needed to serve as a single point of access for policymakers, academics, and development practitioners seeking credible evidence on social and economic interventions in low- and middle-income countries.
In addition, 3ie wanted to modernize its publishing workflow by creating a custom data management system (DMS) that would enable their internal team to efficiently manage, review, approve, and publish research records at scale.
Our Plan & Design Process
Kentech-U delivered end-to-end design and development for the Open-Access Evidence Hub, beginning with a comprehensive discovery phase. During this phase, our teams collaborated to validate assumptions, define requirements, and establish a clear vision for a cohesive product ecosystem.
A primary focus was improving search and content discovery. Drawing on stakeholder interviews and user research, Kentech-U created a detailed features and functionality matrix that directly addressed user needs and pain points.
Given the size and complexity of 3ie’s research repository, we designed a robust, modern search experience capable of delivering precise, relevant results. The previous system relied on limited, basic search functionality, which often led to user frustration and inefficient workarounds.
Development & Implementation
During the development phase, Kentech-U built and deployed the underlying databases, the custom data management application, and the end-user search interface in alignment with the approved designs and system architecture.
The platform was developed using React, GraphQL, and Elasticsearch, enabling fast, scalable search, flexible data querying, and a responsive user experience across devices.
