PlanBoernefonden is one of Denmark’s largest non-governmental aid organizations (NGO’s). It supports the rights of children and young adults in poor, vulnerable and conflict-torn regions across the world. Most of PlanBoernefonden’s projects take place in hard-to-reach areas where access to electricity and clean water are never a given. Advanced IT technology is the backbone that makes the organization able to provide aid on the global scale it does today. Without extensive IT infrastructure, projects would stall or fail to reach their targets. PlanBoernefonden has joined forces with Danoffice IT to expand its IT platform and systems in order to solidify and streamline the delivery and positive effect of current and future aid projects.

Written November 2015

Since the story was written Michael Engelbrechtsen has changed jobs. That, however, does not change the the topicality of story, or PlanBoernefonden approach.

You might initially think that a vast chasm separates PlanBoernefonden’s aid projects in places like Africa and the advanced IT platforms that support modern organizations’ massive infrastructure. However, that is not the case. Without modern, efficient IT, PlanBoernefonden’s large-scale aid projects would be impossible, Michael Engelbrechtsen, Director of Finance and Business Support at PlanBoernefonden and responsible for organizational operations, including IT, says.

In collaboration with Danoffice IT, PlanBoernefonden has implemented a new and stronger server solution. Thanks to the upgrade, processing, storage, and handling of data have been secured and improved. Simultaneously, internal resources have been freed up to focus on process optimization relating to the many aid projects that PlanBoernefonden is launching across the globe.

PlanBoernefonden’s IT department is a relatively small team, led by IT Manager Alan Andersen. The small team size means that Alan Andersen is responsible for many different functions and involved in many diverse tasks, including the likes of project management, system integration, system- and server administration as well as IT security and support.

PlanBoernefonden decided to outsource parts of IT operation to Danoffice IT, which has resulted in marked efficiency increases. The tasks that Danoffice IT is responsible for include automatic backup as well as monitoring and patching of PlanBoernefonden’s servers. For the NGO, this means liberating internal resources, enabling Alan and his team to contribute with knowledge and expertise elsewhere in the organization, helping to solve digital tasks and create better solutions.

Like other aid organizations, PlanBoernefonden has a responsibility to manage investments with respect for the world in which they operate - and thus, price is always a factor. By partnering with Danoffice IT, the NGO has been able to increase capacity without making major investments - and in several regards save on IT operations expenditures.

”The cost of monthly operations and services is set, which gives budgetary transparency and stability that is very important for an NGO, where you have a constant focus on what you are paying and for what,” Michael Engelbrechtsen says.

Danoffice IT’s solution for PlanBoernefonden consists of:

• Managed Service – hosting, surveillance, operation and reporting on PlanBoernefonden’s IT environment
• Housing – housing of servers etc. in Danoffice IT’s data center
• Disaster Recovery – always-ready solution to handle any potential critical IT disruptions
• Backup – surveillance, operations and reporting for backup-servers in Danoffice IT’s data center

• Denmark’s largest privately financed NGO focused on the rights of children and young adults
• Engaged in ensuring the rights and opportunities of children and young adults in vulnerable, poor and conflict-torn areas
• Present in more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Read more about PlanBoernefonden.