CoST Technical Adviser Hamish Goldie-Scot recently travelled to Baghdad to contribute to a workshop convened by the World Bank for representatives of the Reconstruction Fund for Areas Affected by the Terrorist Operations (REFAATO) and other agencies responsible for restoring or replacing infrastructure destroyed by terrorist activities.

The objective of the workshop was to identify how the Bank can assist the government in mitigating corruption risks in reconstruction, while also drawing out lessons from Iraq’s experience of challenges that can arise in the planning and delivery of reconstruction works. Topics discussed included the need to understand the drivers of corruption as well as its symptoms, the important role the independent professional engineer, and the contribution that could potentially be made to effective quality management in the sector by a combination of data transparency, participation and the broader adoption of some new technologies.

CoST also has guidance on Improving infrastructure transparency, participation and accountability during a crisis which may also be useful for infrastructure destroyed by terrorist activities.

Hamish has also been working with the World Bank for some joint training webinars between CoST and the World Bank for people around improving transparency, participation and accountability.