CoST Dominican Republic has built on its existing work on infrastructure transparency, accountability and participation through a new 2024 Government commitment to implement CoST processes such a   data publication platform and the Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) in the country, after its election last year. The CoST International Secretariat visited the country to support the formation of a Multi-Stakeholder Group.

In addition to providing strategic planning guidance for 2025, the visit facilitated a review of the member’s challenges, lessons learned, and strategies for improvement. Furthermore, it allowed the CoST International Secretariat to support and gain deeper insight into its engagement with the Government of the Dominican Republic. 

Leading the mission was Manuel Gonzalez, CoST Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, who facilitated a workshop with the CoST Multi-Stakeholder Group in the Dominican Republic. 

The workshop gathered key representatives from government agencies, the private sector, and civil society organizations. This included National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA); the General Directorate of Public Contracting and the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) the Public Procurement General Directorate (DGCP) from government; the Association of Industrialists of the Dominican Republic representing the private sector; and Participación Ciudadana, the local chapter of Transparency International representing civil society. 

The meeting provided participants with a deeper understanding of CoST tools and the next steps for increasing transparency, accountability and participation in the Dominican Republic’s infrastructure sector. Discussions also focused on the participation framework of stakeholders in the country’s Multi-Stakeholder Group. 

Additional meetings were held with key stakeholders, including the Board of Directors of Participación Ciudadana and the British Embassy, to present CoST’s progress in the country. A bilateral meeting was also conducted with Carlos Pimentel, General Director of Public Procurement General Director, to discuss the advancement of the country’s infrastructure disclosure portal and understand the implementation process and launching of the portal during 2025.  

Using what they’ve learned, alongside the creation of their new data portal, the Dominican Republic also plans to run the first ITI in the country.