The Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) is a tool designed by CoST International Secretariat to measure transparency and the quality of data publication processes in public infrastructure projects. Built on a foundation of international best practices, the ITI provides stakeholders with quality information that serves to promote transparency, accountability, and participation.
With the ITI, stakeholders can track performance like never before. Whether at the national or subnational level, it empowers governments, organizations, and residents to compare procuring entities across four categories.
These are our highlights of 2024 for the Infrastructure Transparency Index:
CoST Ecuador’s first ITI
In recent years, Ecuador has faced an unstable political climate, with protests, changes of authorities, early elections, insecurity, and violence. There has been a lack of transparency mechanisms for residents. In this context, CoST Ecuador commissioned their first ITI.
Recommendations from the Index report included a comprehensive approach to strengthen management capacities and processes, improve citizen participation and increase information dissemination.
There were also suggestions around ensuring the effective implementation and updating of digital tools, such as the Open Contracting Data Standard and the development of projects in the Geographic Information System (GIS) to latest tools such as the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS).
The report also highlighted the importance of updating and reinforcing legislation for public infrastructure projects and implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation system.
West Lombok launched its firt Infrastructure Transparency Index
Based on the results of the ITI, CoST West Lombok issued several recommendations to public authorities to strengthen transparency.
This included the need to appoint or assign staff in each procuring entity or centrally handle information requests and infrastructure data publication; increase the capacity and knowledge of staff in charge of delivering public infrastructure, especially in relationship to data standards and sanctions for violating data publication laws.
ITI assessed projects with value of $473 million in El Salvador
CoST El Salvador released the results of their Infrastructure Transparency Index for 2022 and 2023 which provided a comprehensive and detailed analysis on the levels of transparency and quality of processes in the country’s public infrastructure by evaluating 23 institutions and 43 projects.
The overall results of the ITI show there are many opportunities to improve transparency in public projects.
CoST Uganda ITI results revealed 11% improvement
CoST Uganda published its second Infrastructure Transparency Index results, highlighting an 11% improvement from the last index in 2021.
Conducted from April to May 2024, the second ITI evaluated 30 selected procuring and disclosing entities encompassing 58 infrastructure projects in Uganda.
The launch of the results included a statement from CoST Uganda Champion, the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala.
The results of the Index highlighted that Uganda’s national ITI score improved significantly, rising from 20.8% in 2021 to 32.26% in 2024, indicating progress.
Key lessons observed in CoST members who have undertaken the index twice, is the that results from the previous ITIs were considered and addressed
In 2025 we will support our members in the publication of more Infrastructure Transparency Index. This milestone reflects our commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the infrastructure sector, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa.