diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 220bf614..2694419b 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -9,21 +9,27 @@ updates:
       day: "monday"
       time: "09:00"
       timezone: "UTC"
-    target-branch: "main"
+    target-branch: "development"  # All updates go to development first
     commit-message:
       prefix: "chore(deps)"
       include: "scope"
     labels:
       - "dependencies"
       - "security"
+      - "automated"
+      - "needs-review"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
     pull-request-branch-name:
       separator: "-"
+      prefix: "deps/dev-"
+    versioning-strategy: "auto"
+    security-updates-only: false
     reviewers:
       - "botshelomokoka"
-    versioning-strategy: "auto"
+    allow:
+      - dependency-type: "direct"
+      - dependency-type: "indirect"
     ignore:
-      # Ignore patch updates for non-critical dependencies
       - dependency-name: "*"
         update-types: ["version-update:semver-patch"]
 
@@ -50,12 +56,19 @@ updates:
       day: "monday"
       time: "09:00"
       timezone: "UTC"
-    labels:
-      - "dependencies"
-      - "github-actions"
+    target-branch: "development"  # All CI updates go to development first
     commit-message:
-      prefix: "chore(actions)"
+      prefix: "chore(ci)"
       include: "scope"
+    labels:
+      - "ci-cd"
+      - "dependencies"
+      - "automated"
+      - "needs-review"
+    pull-request-branch-name:
+      separator: "-"
+      prefix: "ci/dev-"
+    security-updates-only: false
     reviewers:
       - "botshelomokoka"
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/branch_maintenance.yml b/.github/workflows/branch_maintenance.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b7869ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/branch_maintenance.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+name: Branch Maintenance and Alignment
+
+on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 0 * * SUN'  # Run weekly on Sunday
+  workflow_dispatch:  # Allow manual trigger
+    inputs:
+      force_cleanup:
+        description: 'Force cleanup of stale branches'
+        required: false
+        default: 'false'
+
+jobs:
+  branch-maintenance:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0  # Fetch all history
+
+      - name: Setup Git
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "GitHub Actions"
+          git config user.email "actions@github.com"
+
+      - name: Analyze Branches
+        id: analyze
+        run: |
+          # List all branches with their last commit info
+          echo "Analyzing branches and their commit history..."
+          git for-each-ref --sort=-committerdate refs/heads/ --format='%(refname:short)|%(committerdate:iso8601)|%(committername)|%(subject)' > branch_analysis.txt
+          
+          # Identify stale branches (no commits in 30 days, except protected branches)
+          echo "Identifying stale branches..."
+          while IFS='|' read -r branch date author message; do
+            if [[ ! "$branch" =~ ^(main|development|master|release)$ ]] && [[ $(date -d "$date" +%s) -lt $(date -d "30 days ago" +%s) ]]; then
+              echo "$branch" >> stale_branches.txt
+            fi
+          done < branch_analysis.txt
+          
+          # Identify merged branches
+          echo "Identifying merged branches..."
+          git branch --merged development | grep -v "^\*" | grep -vE "^(\s*development|\s*main|\s*master)$" > merged_branches.txt
+
+      - name: Generate Branch Report
+        run: |
+          echo "# Branch Analysis Report" > branch_report.md
+          echo "## Active Branches" >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          git branch -r --sort=-committerdate | grep -v HEAD >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          
+          echo "## Stale Branches" >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          cat stale_branches.txt >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          
+          echo "## Merged Branches" >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          cat merged_branches.txt >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          
+          echo "## Recent Commits per Branch" >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+          cat branch_analysis.txt >> branch_report.md
+          echo "\`\`\`" >> branch_report.md
+
+      - name: Create Issue with Branch Report
+        uses: actions/github-script@v6
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const fs = require('fs');
+            const report = fs.readFileSync('branch_report.md', 'utf8');
+            await github.rest.issues.create({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              title: 'Weekly Branch Maintenance Report',
+              body: report,
+              labels: ['maintenance', 'branch-cleanup']
+            });
+
+      - name: Cleanup Approved Branches
+        if: github.event.inputs.force_cleanup == 'true'
+        run: |
+          # Delete merged branches
+          while read branch; do
+            if [ -n "$branch" ]; then
+              git push origin --delete $branch
+              echo "Deleted merged branch: $branch"
+            fi
+          done < merged_branches.txt
+          
+          # Delete stale branches
+          while read branch; do
+            if [ -n "$branch" ]; then
+              git push origin --delete $branch
+              echo "Deleted stale branch: $branch"
+            fi
+          done < stale_branches.txt
+
+      - name: Align Branch Structure
+        run: |
+          # Ensure development branch exists
+          if ! git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/development; then
+            git checkout -b development main
+            git push origin development
+          fi
+          
+          # Ensure proper branch protection
+          gh api repos/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/branches/development/protection --method PUT \
+            -f required_status_checks[0].context='test-release-candidate' \
+            -f enforce_admins=true \
+            -f required_pull_request_reviews[0].required_approving_review_count=1
+          
+          gh api repos/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/branches/main/protection --method PUT \
+            -f required_status_checks[0].context='test-release-candidate' \
+            -f enforce_admins=true \
+            -f required_pull_request_reviews[0].required_approving_review_count=1
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_flow.yml b/.github/workflows/release_flow.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea07e997
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_flow.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+name: Release Flow Management
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - development
+      - 'rc/*'
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    types: [closed]
+    branches:
+      - development
+      - 'rc/*'
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  manage-release-flow:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Setup Git
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "GitHub Actions"
+          git config user.email "actions@github.com"
+
+      # Create Release Candidate from Development
+      - name: Create RC Branch
+        if: |
+          github.event_name == 'push' &&
+          github.ref == 'refs/heads/development' &&
+          !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'chore(deps)')
+        run: |
+          RC_VERSION=$(date +%Y%m%d)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
+          git checkout -b rc/$RC_VERSION development
+          git push origin rc/$RC_VERSION
+          gh pr create \
+            --title "Release Candidate $RC_VERSION" \
+            --body "Automated release candidate from development branch" \
+            --base main \
+            --head rc/$RC_VERSION \
+            --label "release-candidate"
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      # Merge to Main and Create Release
+      - name: Create Release
+        if: |
+          github.event_name == 'pull_request' &&
+          github.event.pull_request.merged == true &&
+          startsWith(github.event.pull_request.head.ref, 'rc/') &&
+          github.event.pull_request.base.ref == 'main'
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(echo ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }} | sed 's/rc\///')
+          git tag -a v$VERSION -m "Release v$VERSION"
+          git push origin v$VERSION
+          gh release create v$VERSION \
+            --title "Release v$VERSION" \
+            --notes "Release candidate merged to main" \
+            --target main
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      # Sync Main back to Development
+      - name: Sync Development
+        if: |
+          github.event_name == 'push' &&
+          github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+        run: |
+          git checkout development
+          git merge --no-ff main
+          git push origin development
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+  # Automated Tests for Release Candidates
+  test-release-candidate:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/rc/')
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      
+      - name: Setup Rust
+        uses: actions-rs/toolchain@v1
+        with:
+          toolchain: stable
+          
+      - name: Run Tests
+        run: cargo test --all-features --verbose
+        
+      - name: Run Security Audit
+        run: |
+          cargo install cargo-audit
+          cargo audit
diff --git a/scripts/standardize_repos.sh b/scripts/standardize_repos.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e154701c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/standardize_repos.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Configuration
+ORG_NAME="anya"  # Replace with your organization name
+GITHUB_TOKEN="${GITHUB_TOKEN}"  # Set this in your environment
+GPG_KEY="6116504FE0507099"
+GIT_NAME="bo_thebig"
+GIT_EMAIL="botshelomokoka@gmail.com"
+
+# Required files to copy to all repos
+WORKFLOW_FILES=(
+    ".github/workflows/release_flow.yml"
+    ".github/workflows/branch_maintenance.yml"
+    ".github/dependabot.yml"
+)
+
+# Get all repositories
+echo "Fetching repositories..."
+repos=$(gh repo list $ORG_NAME --json nameWithOwner --jq '.[].nameWithOwner')
+
+for repo in $repos; do
+    echo "Processing repository: $repo"
+    
+    # Clone repository
+    git clone "https://github.com/$repo.git" temp_repo
+    cd temp_repo
+    
+    # Setup git config with GPG
+    git config user.name "$GIT_NAME"
+    git config user.email "$GIT_EMAIL"
+    git config user.signingkey "$GPG_KEY"
+    git config commit.gpgsign true
+    
+    # Create development branch if it doesn't exist
+    if ! git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/development; then
+        echo "Creating development branch for $repo"
+        git checkout -b development main || git checkout -b development master
+        git push origin development
+    fi
+    
+    # Copy workflow files
+    mkdir -p .github/workflows
+    for file in "${WORKFLOW_FILES[@]}"; do
+        cp "../$file" "./$file" 2>/dev/null || echo "Warning: Could not copy $file"
+    done
+    
+    # Commit changes if any
+    if git status --porcelain | grep -q '^'; then
+        git add .
+        git commit -m "chore: standardize repository structure and workflows"
+        git push origin development
+    fi
+    
+    # Analyze and clean branches
+    echo "Analyzing branches for $repo"
+    
+    # List merged branches
+    merged_branches=$(git branch --merged development | grep -v "^\*" | grep -vE "^(\s*development|\s*main|\s*master)$")
+    
+    # List stale branches (no commits in 30 days)
+    stale_branches=$(git for-each-ref --sort=-committerdate refs/heads/ --format='%(refname:short)|%(committerdate:iso8601)' | 
+        while IFS='|' read -r branch date; do
+            if [[ ! "$branch" =~ ^(main|development|master)$ ]] && [[ $(date -d "$date" +%s) -lt $(date -d "30 days ago" +%s) ]]; then
+                echo "$branch"
+            fi
+        done)
+    
+    # Generate report
+    echo "# Branch Cleanup Report for $repo" > "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md"
+    echo "## Merged Branches" >> "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md"
+    echo "$merged_branches" >> "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md"
+    echo "## Stale Branches" >> "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md"
+    echo "$stale_branches" >> "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md"
+    
+    # Create issue with report
+    gh issue create \
+        --repo "$repo" \
+        --title "Branch Cleanup Required" \
+        --body-file "../reports/${repo//\//_}_report.md" \
+        --label "maintenance,branch-cleanup"
+    
+    cd ..
+    rm -rf temp_repo
+done
+
+echo "Repository standardization complete!"