CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: from disclosed data to sector reform

CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative was founded in 2008 with support from the Institution of Civil Engineers. It aims to reduce corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency in public infrastructure by working with governments, industry and society to get more information disclosed at all stages of the project cycle. Citizens can then use these data to hold decision makers to account and drive improvements in delivery. This paper examines infrastructure data from ten countries, showing that difficulties keeping to time and budget and problems with procurement are the most common problems. Examples of where CoST has promoted long-lasting reform are then provided, including Honduras, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Malawi.