diff --git a/backend/.sequelizerc b/backend/.sequelizerc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b252eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/.sequelizerc
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const path = require('path');
+
+module.exports = {
+  'config': path.resolve('config', 'database.js'),
+  'migrations-path': path.resolve('migrations'),
+  'models-path': path.resolve('models'),
+};
diff --git a/backend/config/database.js b/backend/config/database.js
index e54fbaf..1056288 100644
--- a/backend/config/database.js
+++ b/backend/config/database.js
@@ -1,21 +1,62 @@
-const { Sequelize } = require('sequelize');
+const { Sequelize } = require("sequelize");
 
+// Load environment variables based on NODE_ENV
+// This ensures variables are available for both CLI and programmatic usage
+if (!process.env.DB_NAME && process.env.NODE_ENV) {
+  const dotenv = require("dotenv");
+  const envFile = `.env.${process.env.NODE_ENV}`;
+  const result = dotenv.config({ path: envFile });
+  if (result.error && process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
+    console.warn(
+      `Warning: Could not load ${envFile}, using existing environment variables`
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+// Database configuration object
+// Used by both Sequelize CLI and programmatic initialization
+const dbConfig = {
+  username: process.env.DB_USER,
+  password: process.env.DB_PASSWORD,
+  database: process.env.DB_NAME,
+  host: process.env.DB_HOST,
+  port: process.env.DB_PORT || 5432,
+  dialect: "postgres",
+  logging: false,
+  pool: {
+    max: 5,
+    min: 0,
+    acquire: 10000,
+    idle: 10000,
+  },
+};
+
+// Configuration for Sequelize CLI (supports multiple environments)
+// All environments use the same configuration from environment variables
+const cliConfig = {
+  development: dbConfig,
+  dev: dbConfig,
+  test: dbConfig,
+  qa: dbConfig,
+  production: dbConfig,
+  prod: dbConfig,
+};
+
+// Create Sequelize instance for programmatic use
 const sequelize = new Sequelize(
-  process.env.DB_NAME,
-  process.env.DB_USER,
-  process.env.DB_PASSWORD,
+  dbConfig.database,
+  dbConfig.username,
+  dbConfig.password,
   {
-    host: process.env.DB_HOST,
-    port: process.env.DB_PORT,
-    dialect: 'postgres',
-    logging: false,
-    pool: {
-      max: 5,
-      min: 0,
-      acquire: 30000,
-      idle: 10000
-    }
+    host: dbConfig.host,
+    port: dbConfig.port,
+    dialect: dbConfig.dialect,
+    logging: dbConfig.logging,
+    pool: dbConfig.pool,
   }
 );
 
-module.exports = sequelize;
\ No newline at end of file
+// Export the sequelize instance as default (for backward compatibility)
+// Also export all environment configs for Sequelize CLI
+module.exports = sequelize;
+Object.assign(module.exports, cliConfig);
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 02e5365..de9d797 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
     "test:unit": "NODE_ENV=test jest tests/unit",
     "test:integration": "NODE_ENV=test jest tests/integration",
     "test:ci": "NODE_ENV=test jest --ci --coverage --maxWorkers=2",
+    "db:migrate": "sequelize-cli db:migrate",
+    "db:migrate:undo": "sequelize-cli db:migrate:undo",
+    "db:migrate:undo:all": "sequelize-cli db:migrate:undo:all",
+    "db:migrate:status": "sequelize-cli db:migrate:status",
+    "db:create": "sequelize-cli db:create",
+    "test:migrations": "node scripts/test-migrations.js",
     "alpha:add": "NODE_ENV=dev node scripts/manageAlphaInvitations.js add",
     "alpha:list": "NODE_ENV=dev node scripts/manageAlphaInvitations.js list",
     "alpha:revoke": "NODE_ENV=dev node scripts/manageAlphaInvitations.js revoke",