Case Study

Turning complex financial reporting into comparable data

We built an integrated reporting and analytics platform for the United Nations, connecting multilingual submissions, administrative tools, and interactive analysis to help make military expenditure data easier to manage and compare.

Stacked bar chart showing yearly military expenditure reports divided into nil, simplified, single-figure, and standardized report types
Client UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
System UN Military Expenditures Database and Reporting Tool
Focus Workflow modernization · Data normalization · Analytics
Technology Angular · Django · AWS Cognito · Apache Superset
Published military expenditure report showing spending data, year and currency selectors, and download options
Published expenditure report. Users can explore reported spending by country and year, change currency views, and download data.

01 — The challenge

Make data from different sources consistent and comparable

Organizations often collect information from multiple sources, each with its own formats, units, and conventions. Bringing that information together for analysis requires a way to preserve the original context while making meaningful comparisons possible.

For the United Nations military expenditure reporting system, countries submit financial information using different currencies, units, and reporting formats. The platform needed to support the submission and review process while making published data easier to explore across countries and years.

We built a connected system for collecting reports, managing submissions, and analyzing the resulting data—preserving reported values while supporting normalized comparisons.

02 — The approach

Connect data collection, management, and analysis

The platform was designed around three connected capabilities: guided reporting, data normalization, and administrative oversight.

01

Guided reporting

A multilingual, step-by-step workflow helps users submit information using four report types, accommodating different levels of detail and reports with no expenditure to declare.

02

Data normalization

Reported amounts retain their original currency and unit information. The analytics layer uses World Bank economic datasets to support historical USD comparisons and expenditure ratios.

03

Administrative oversight

A separate staff interface provides tools to monitor submissions, review report details, and make permitted adjustments.

03 — Implementation

One system from submission to interactive analysis

The platform connects the reporting interface to administrative tools and public-facing analytics, allowing the same structured information to support operational management and broader analysis.

Reporting

Guide users through structured submissions

The multilingual reporting interface takes users through a defined sequence, from report setup and contact information to expenditure details, preview, and feedback. It supports nil, single-figure, simplified, and standardized reports.

Military expenditure reporting workflow with step navigation, language selection, year selection, and report template downloads
Guided reporting interface. Users work through a defined reporting sequence, with language options, report setup, and access to reporting templates.

Administration

Give staff tools to monitor and manage reports

A separate Django administration interface provides a filterable register of submissions. Staff can review records by country, year, completion status, report type, and submission date, and make permitted adjustments.

Django administration report list showing completion status, report type, and submission date
Report administration. Staff can filter and review submissions by country, year, completeness, report type, and submission date.

Data and analytics

Make financial data easier to compare and explore

The system retains original reported values alongside normalized comparisons, helping preserve context while supporting analysis across different currencies, reporting periods, and economic measures.

World Bank exchange-rate, inflation, and GDP-deflator data support historical financial comparisons. Interactive dashboards make expenditure and reporting participation trends easier to explore.

Interactive chart showing military expenditure reporting participation by regional group over time
Participation analytics. Interactive charts reveal reporting patterns across years and regional groups.

Technology

  • Angular
  • Django
  • PostgreSQL
  • AWS Cognito
  • Apache Superset
  • World Bank datasets

Application and data infrastructure

The platform combines a multilingual reporting interface, application and administration services, and interactive analytics. Reported values and units remain available alongside normalized USD equivalents and expenditure ratios.

04 — Outcome

Preserve the original data while making it more useful

The resulting platform connects reporting operations with financial data analysis, supporting both the management of individual submissions and the exploration of broader trends.

  • Guided reporting in all six official UN languages
  • Four report types supported through a structured workflow
  • Original reported amounts and units retained alongside normalized comparisons
  • Staff tools for monitoring submissions and managing report records
  • Interactive analytics for expenditure and reporting participation

What this project demonstrates

This project demonstrates our ability to connect multilingual reporting, administrative workflows, data normalization, and interactive financial analysis in a single platform.