UNCCD /
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Unified Drupal DXP With Governance-Ready Content Operations
UNCCD’s (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) digital ecosystem required modernization and consolidation. Four separate websites (two WordPress and two Drupal) were operating independently, increasing maintenance costs and making consistent delivery across teams difficult. Content operations were fragmented, UX was inconsistent, and a scalable long-term platform foundation was missing.
A unified Drupal Digital Experience Platform was delivered to centralize the ecosystem, enable scalable editorial workflows, and provide modern component-based content operations. The platform was designed as a long-term foundation for growth, supporting multiple internal content teams and strategic environmental programs.
The modernization program included multi-iteration migrations, builder-content cleanup, removal of risky PHP fragments, and implementation of reusable UI components via Storybook. Performance, analytics, and headless integration for mobile applications were also addressed as part of delivery.
Technologies
Drupal DXP
Storybook Design System
Drupal Migrate API
GraphQL Headless Delivery
GTM + GA4 (Custom Tracking)
Looker Studio Analytics Dashboard
Industry
Delivery Model
Hosting / Platform
Key Programs
- Land & Life
- Our Work & Impact
- Science
- News & Stories
- Events
- Convention
Results
- 30–40% Content Delivery Cost Reduction (Storybook Component Reuse)
- Lighthouse Score Improvement: 30–60 → 70–90
[The Challenge]
UNCCD’s website infrastructure had evolved into a fragmented multi-site system. Four separate websites were created across different technologies and content standards, resulting in duplicated effort, inconsistent UX, and difficulties with content governance.
- Four separate platforms (two WordPress + two Drupal 7) with different content structures and editorial practices
- WordPress pages built using multiple builders (Gutenberg, Elementor, Beaver Builder) with inconsistent markup quality
- Legacy WordPress content included PHP fragments used to render tables and dynamic content in page sources
- Multiple editorial teams required independent workflows and review processes per site section
- Performance challenges and limited observability of content behavior and user interaction
[The Solution]
Unified Drupal DXP Consolidation
A single scalable Drupal platform was delivered to replace multiple disconnected sites, enabling consistent UX, shared governance, and centralized operations.
Migration Program With Quality Control
Multi-iteration migrations were executed using a custom Drupal migration module with validation steps and structured auditing for reliable delivery.
Builder Content Cleanup & Sanitization
WordPress builder markup was sanitized using 37 custom cleanup preprocessors to ensure clean structured content in the Drupal platform.
Secure Component-Based Content Delivery
Risky PHP fragments embedded in WordPress pages were eliminated and replaced with safe Drupal components and configurable parameters.
Storybook Design System Delivery
A Storybook-based component library was implemented to enforce UI consistency and speed up development across evolving UX requirements.
Headless Content Support for Mobile Apps
Headless delivery was migrated and extended using GraphQL to support mobile application content needs and improve API stability.
[Core Features]
Editorial Workflows Per Content Domain
Independent governance workflows were enabled across key platform sections, supporting review, approvals, and controlled publishing per domain.
Structured Component-Based Pages
Pages were rebuilt using reusable Drupal components, replacing builder chaos with stable and scalable content structure.
Content Sanitization & Reliability Layer
A cleanup and preprocessor framework was implemented to stabilize migrated content and prevent invalid markup from entering production.
Storybook Design System Consistency
UI consistency was ensured through a shared component system aligned with evolving UX updates and InDesign-based changes.
Headless Delivery With GraphQL
GraphQL endpoints were updated and maintained to support mobile apps and structured headless content consumption.
Visitor Behavior Tracking
GTM and GA4 were extended with custom tracking for sections and components to understand how users engage with key content.
CDP Dashboard in Looker Studio
Advanced analytics dashboards were built using Google Looker Studio to provide structured insights into traffic, content performance, and behavior.
[Implementation]
Drupal Consolidation Delivery
A unified Drupal platform was delivered to consolidate multiple legacy websites into a single governance-ready ecosystem.
Migration & Cleanup Engineering
A custom migration module was implemented using Drupal Migrate API, and builder content was sanitized through 37 cleanup preprocessors.
Component System Development
A Storybook-based design system was delivered to enable reusable UI components and ensure UX consistency during UX change iterations.
Headless + Analytics Enhancements
GraphQL delivery for mobile applications was migrated and extended, while GTM/GA4 tracking and Looker Studio dashboards were implemented.
[Testimonials]
It was my pleasure working with Oleksiy (PathToProject) on a new Drupal website. He is a true full-stack developer—the ideal mix of DevOps expertise, deep front-end knowledge, and the structured thinking of a senior back-end developer.
He is well-organized and never lets anything slip. Oleksiy understands what needs to be done before being asked and can manage a project independently with minimal involvement from clients, product managers, or business analysts.
One of the best consultants I’ve worked with so far.
Andrei Melis
Technical Lead at Eau de Web
[Business Outcomes]
Single Unified Digital Platform
Four disconnected websites were consolidated into a unified Drupal DXP, reducing maintenance overhead and improving long-term scalability.
Faster UI Delivery Through Component Reuse
A Storybook-based component system reduced frontend effort and accelerated delivery, enabling a 30–40% reduction in content development costs.
Modernized and Stable Content Migration
Multi-iteration migrations were delivered with structured sanitation and validation, ensuring long-term content stability and predictable operations.
Eliminated Risky Legacy PHP Content
Unsafe PHP fragments embedded into WordPress content were removed and replaced with secure Drupal components and structured configuration.
Improved Performance and Page Experience
Performance improvements raised Lighthouse scores from 30–60 range to 70–90 range, improving usability and perceived site quality.
Actionable Analytics & Content Insights
Custom tracking and CDP dashboards provided reliable visibility into content engagement, enabling data-driven decisions for future improvements.
[Next Projects]
“It was my pleasure working with Oleksiy (PathToProject) on a new Drupal website. He is a true full-stack developer—the ideal mix of DevOps expertise, deep front-end knowledge, and the structured thinking of a senior back-end developer. He is well-organized and never lets anything slip. Oleksiy understands what needs to be done before being asked and can manage a project independently with minimal involvement from clients, product managers, or business analysts. One of the best consultants I’ve worked with so far. ”
“Oleksiy (PathToProject) and I worked together on a Digital Transformation project for Bayer LATAM Radiología. Oly was the Drupal developer, and I was the business lead. His professionalism, technical expertise, and ability to deliver functional improvements were some of the key attributes he brought to the project. I also want to highlight his collaboration and flexibility—throughout the entire journey, Oleksiy exceeded my expectations. It’s great when you can partner with vendors you trust, and who go the extra mile. ”
“Oleksiy (PathToProject) is a great professional with solid experience in Drupal. He is reliable, hard-working, and responsive. He dealt with high organizational complexity seamlessly. He was also very positive and made teamwork easy. It was a pleasure working with him. ”
“Oleksiy (PathToProject) worked with me on a specific project over a period of three months. He took full ownership of the project and successfully led it to completion with minimal initial information. His technical skills are unquestionably top-tier, and working with him was a pleasure. I would gladly collaborate with Oleksiy again at any opportunity. ”
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)Drupal-Based Research Data Management Platform
“Oleksiy (PathToProject) has been a valuable developer resource over the past six months for us at LSHTM. This included coming on board to revive and complete a stalled Drupal upgrade project, as well as carrying out work to improve our site accessibility and functionality. I have found Oleksiy to be very knowledgeable and skilful and would happily work with him again in the future. ”
“Oleksiy (PathToProject) is demanding and responsive. Comfortable with an Agile approach and strong technical skills, I appreciate the way he challenges stories and features to clarify specifications before and during sprints. ”
“As Dev Team Lead on my project for 10 months, Oleksiy (PathToProject) demonstrated excellent technical skills and the ability to handle complex Drupal projects. His full-stack expertise is highly valuable. ”
