CoST was launched as a global initiative in 2012 with the support of the World Bank and grew out of lessons learnt from a three-year pilot programme which tested the viability of a new transparency and accountability process in public infrastructure in eight countries.

The CoST pilot phase cost about £3.4 million to implement. This budget funded all the CoST activities in the seven pilot countries, as well as the policy direction by the CoST International Advisory Group and the assistance and coordination provided by the International Secretariat.

This briefing note provides information on the breakdown of this spending, with a view to informing future CoST budgets.