Selected Activities

Community and Outreach

USAID Women in Development Web Presence

Client: USAID Women in Development and USAID WID Intranet site
Status: These sites are actively maintained.
Technologies Used: Static HTML (public site), CSS, PHP, MYSQL, XSLT, XML (WID Document Manager)

Sonjara supports Outreach and Communications efforts of the Women in Development Office at USAID by maintaining WID public and intranet websites, and developing 508 compliant PDF documents for posting on those sites.

Sonjara developed the WID Document Manager to help maintain over 700 WID PDFs, each classifed by region/country, activity, and gender focus areas (such as child marriage, legal rights, or economic growth). This document manager generates high quality HTML for posting lists of publication links on the public site using XML/XSL templates, decreasing workload and increasing quality of HTML management.

Sonjara presented the WID Document Manager at the USAID/Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Knowledge Management Forum, participating in a panel on Capturing and Indexing Knowledge, and holding a demonstration table on the application for visitors.

USAID Office of Democracy and Governance

Client: USAID/DCHA/DG
Status: These sites are actively maintained.
Technologies Used: Static HTML (public site), CSS, PHP, MYSQL (DG Docs Tool)

Sonjara supports the Outreach and Communications and Knowledge Management efforts of the Democracy and Governance (DG) Office at USAID by substantially contributing to the development of the DG Communications Strategy, maintaining the DG public and intranet sites, identifying and implementing web tools, and developing 508 compliant PDF documents for posting on those websites.

Sonjara developed the PHP/MYSQL DG Docs Web Tool, allowing trainers and presenters to upload presentation documents to a secure website for specific training sessions. This tool allows for improved management of presentation documents and an online data entry interface for managers to update session information as needed.

NCUIH Health Publications Toolkit

Client: National Council of Urban Indian Health
Status: This site is under development.
Technologies Used: PHP, MYSQL, Static HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX

Using Sonjara's Rapid Development Framework, NCUIH will have an online Health Publications Toolkit for its members and the general public consisting of health related publications specific to the needs of the Urban Indian Health community. The database will feature member-only features, web-based data and user management, and an auto-glossary feature for key terms.

Africa Avian Influenza Information Center

Client: USAID Global Health
Status: This site is actively maintained.
Technologies Used: PHP, MYSQL, Static HTML, AJAX

Sonjara supports USAID's contribution to fighting the global Avian Influenza Pandemic by producing the Africa Avian Influenza Information Center, which offers a web-based document library tied to an event calendar, a links library, and a discussion mailing list. The data and documents for Information Center are managed entirely through a web-based, secured administration site.

Office of the Chief Information Officer Intranet Redesign, Release 1.0 and 2.0

Client: USAID/CIO through SRA, International
Status: This site is actively maintained.
Technologies Used: Static HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Perl, integration with CommonSpot CMS, Remedy, other existing applications used by USAID.

Sonjara played the role of information architect and web developer for the intranet site redesign and consolidation process for the Office of the CIO at USAID. The task involved developing the web strategy for the OCIO, identifying use cases and user groups, interviewing stakeholders, identifying and consolidating existing content (over 37 existing, independent websites), developing wireframes and navigation system for the new site.

The team also performed a collaboration functionality analysis, focusing on existing software applications approved by USAID, and integrating some of the recommendations of the Release 2.0 phase of the activity.

Release 2.0 encompassed transferring the content from static HTML into a Content Management System (CommonSpot), a task which including writing custom scripts for mass data import (including documents and images), tweaking the navigation and user interface to meet the needs of the CMS, and creating custom Coldfusion modules for collaboration functionality. Sonjara also designed and held multiple training sessions for Content Editors, and customized a user manual specific to the CIO site.

Web Applications

Primary Source Learning

Client: Primary Source Learning
Status: This site is actively maintained.
Technologies Used: PHP, MYSQL, Static HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX

Sonjara has been chosen as the technology partner of Primary Source Learning, a non-profit focused on providing assistance to American teachers on using primary source materials from the Library of Congress and other knowledge repositories. Major tasks include maintaining and supporting the site, adding new search and interactive functionality, and improving site performance.

Institute for Reproductive Health

Client: Institute for Reproductive Health, part of Georgetown University
Status: This project is under development.
Technologies Used: Drupal 6.0, (PHP, MYSQL), CMS

Sonjara is developing a Drupal-based dynamically driven website for IRH. This system includes linked documents to page subject matter, and utilizes a Content Management System.

Civil War Gun and Sword Kiosk Display

Client: Kim Bieler Graphic Design
Status: This kiosk is under development.
Technologies Used: PHP, MYSQL, Static HTML, AJAX, Mac

Sonjara is partnering with Kim Bieler Graphic Design to develop the backend functionality for a museum display kiosk on Civil War weapons. Key features include: zoom and magnify image functionality, touch screen display, look and feel contingent on path, and networked data updating ability, including auto-thumbnailing of images.

Asia & Near East Content Submission Tool (ANE CST)

Client: USAID/ANE
Status: This tool was rolled out June 2007 and is actively used.
Technologies Used: ASP.NET, SQL Server, C#, XML/XSLT, RSS

Sonjara, Inc developed a content submission tool to help overseas Missions manage their own web content without the need for a dynamic content management tool. Residing on USAID’s Intranet, the CST allows user to add and edit activity and article information through web-based forms, create new web page layouts using XML/XSL, and “churn” USAID compliant html pages, which are in turn either FTP’d directly to the USAID intranet server or downloaded as a ZIP file onto the user’s hard drive. The CST also allows cross population of content onto the ANE central website from each of the subsites, by pulling shared content from the database, and by pulling in RSS feeds from two Mission sites managed by a Content Management System.

ICT-in-Education Toolkit

Client: InfoDev, UNESCO, AED, Knowledge Enterprise, Inc.
Status: This site is actively maintained. UNESCO, World Bank, and other partners are currently using or have plans to use the tool to train Ministries of Education around the world.
Technologies Used: PHP, MYSQL, Linux, XML

Sonjara, Inc. provided software development and management expertise in the production of the ICT-in-Education Toolkit, a highly-complex set of inter-related policy tools. Sonjara was also involved in addressing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) usability concerns, additional functionality requirements, and review of training process for recommendations on improved training workflow.

The site was implemented in PHP/MySQL using a custom developed XML-based form engine that provides a high-level mechanism for describing the complex workflows within the toolkit. The site debuted in September 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand and substantially extended in March 2007. A fully functional and dynamic CDRom version was also developed as part of this project.

WebTA Consultants Database

Client: DHHS, Office of Family Planning for Title X technical assistance requests
Status: This site is under development.
Technologies Used: .NET/SQL Server

The WebTA Consultants Database project is a complete rebuild of an existing system. Partnering with EST Technologies, the implementers of the consultants management for the Office of Family Planning, Sonjara is developing an online consultants management system which provides unique user experience based on login type (consultant view, Regional Program Coordinators/Program Officer view, Administrative views), auto pdf generation of consultant agreements, Technical Assistance Request (TAR), expense report, budget and travel management, audit tracking, and multi-level review and approval processes.

Evaluations

GEMS II: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Education Evaluation

Client: USAID/Education through Aguirre, LLC
Status: Project is on-going

Sonjara is providing technology evaluation expertise for the USAID Education Office evaluation of two information technology projects: the Global Learning Portal, and the Education Policy and Data Center. Sonjara has conducted interviews with technical staff and consultants, reviewed project documentation, and performed usability analyses in order to evaluate the technology components of these activities. Sonjara also is providing concrete recommendations on improvements and next steps, including conducting use case scenarios, information architecture support, and user workflow analysis, in order to improve the implementation of these activities.

Global Health, Office of Population and Reproduction Health Evaluation of INFO Project

Client: USAID/GH through QED, LLC
Status: Project is completed.

Sonjara contributed to the USAID Global Health evaluation of the Johns Hopkins Knowledge Management for Health project, INFO, by performing the technology and Knowledge Management (KM) analysis of the five year activity. Through interviews, technology analysis, and other means, Sonjara reviewed the various KM and technology elements to this project and gave an overall analysis of both the technology investment and the overarching KM strategy. Sonjara also provided concrete recommendations to USAID Global Health Bureau for the follow on contract.

Small Business Sites

Le Peintre

Mavlian LLC

Client: Le Peintre, Annandale, Virginia
Mavlian LLC, Annandale, Virginia

Status: These projects are on-going.
Technologies Used: HTML, XHTML, CSS, Flash

Sonjara has developed and maintains a business presence for Le Peintre, a small business that provides custom painting and remodeling services in the Washington DC metro area.

Sonjara has also developed a site for their sister business, Mavlian LLC, which provides roofing, siding and door/window installation services.

These sites are graphic intensive and include multiple Flash photo galleries which highlight the diverse services these companies offer.

 

 

 

Enviro-Stormwater Management

Client: Enviro-Stormwater Management
Status: This project is live.
Technologies Used: HTML, XHTML, CSS

Sonjara has developed and maintains a business presence for Enviro-Stormwater Management, a small business that provides inspection, maintenance, and repair services for stormwater facilities and related appurtenances.

 

 

Last Updated: June 10, 2009