CoST aims to scale-up to 22 countries by December 2016. This growth is a key objective of CoST’s recently published Business Plan.

The Business Plan aims to establish 14 new national programmes over the next 3 years as well as strengthening the technical capacity and increasing the effectiveness of the 8 former pilot countries. Since the launch of the Global Programme in late 2012, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Uganda and the Ukraine have all joined CoST with more set to join this year.

The Business Plan also aims to build the capacity of the International Secretariat and the Board to implement and govern the CoST programme and provide support to national programmes.

Executive Director Petter Matthews said: “This plan demonstrates how CoST can be effectively scaled-up in the medium term and the benefits of increased transparency and accountability extended to more countries. We will be using it as the basis for discussions with potential financial supporters in the coming months.”