Transparency, efficiency and quality in infrastructure projects is only a ‘click’ away

Transparency. Efficiency. Quality. If you work with infrastructure projects, as I do, these are words you will hear all the time. Unfortunately, these concepts are familiar to us because so many projects lack them – often realized during a “lessons learned” recap of what not to do next time.

But with the new International Infrastructure Support System (IISS) - a digital platform that supports project preparation - achieving transparency, efficiency and quality in infrastructure PPPs, and traditional procurement, is within our reach .  I’ve been involved in IISS’s development for last six years and I’m inspired by this platform’s potential to transform the way infrastructure projects are prepared, financed and delivered .  Through it, we will be able to deliver more quality-infrastructure faster and improve people’s quality of life across the globe.
 

 

This new approach to project preparation is the result of collaboration among the world’s major MDBs  (multilateral development banks) and DFIs (development financing institutions), along with many forward-thinking private sector institutions. In fact, its collaboration with other knowledge initiatives and databases sets IISS apart from other project platforms. 
 
In recognition of the progress IISS has made and the results of the pilot projects conducted to date, several development banks and project preparation facilities have already agreed to use IISS for their infrastructure projects. They have also pledged to contribute to the ongoing future use of IISS for the benefit of governments around the world.  Adoption of the platform is already guaranteed across a wide range of sectors.
 
Why should you use it?
If you’ve been part of an infrastructure project at any stage, you already know how difficult it is for the many contributors to operate from one single working environment. For example, consultants on a project may not be quite up to date on the latest government or management decisions; problems with version control can often slow down or confuse progress; communication between the public and private sector can be compromised by outdated or mistaken assumptions; and the ability to generate and disseminate reports may be limited due to data availability and inefficient communication channels. 

IISS, a single platform that has been endorsed by major MDBs and DFIs, solves these problems – and addresses many other infrastructure project challenges.  I know this because we have incorporated more than 3,000 pieces of feedback received from more than 60 organizations on the platform.
One of the reasons the platform took six years to develop is because both the private sector and the public sector were involved in its development phase. 

This is critical for the platform’s success.  Both sides participated in rigorous online and onsite feedback sessions and pilots that tested every aspect of the platform’s capabilities. 

Who’s behind it?
The just-launched platform was initially created by the Asian Development Bank under the acronym NIIS (National Infrastructure Support Systems). NIIS showed so much potential that the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF) was created with support from several MDBs and DFIs specifically to expand NIIS to serve a global audience. In addition to providing funding, the following MDBs and DFIs are also members of the Advisory Committee, which provides advice and guidance on the strategic direction of IISS:

• African Development Bank (AfDB)
• Asian Development Bank (AsDB)
• O Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES)
• Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB)
• World Bank Group (WBG) 

What next?
Currently, IISS is progressively being rolled out to governments around the world. This will ensure we capture real projects by real people with real needs. Once there is a substantial pipeline of quality projects in the system, we will invite private sector companies to register and explore exciting investment opportunities.
 
IISS is poised to become the global standard for infrastructure project preparation and a one-stop shop for potential investors. But this will only happen with your active interest and, ultimately, use of the platform. So I encourage you to get involved! To find out more about IISS, please go to http://public.sif-iiss.org
 
Related:
Press Release: REVOLUTIONARY NEW APPROACH TO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT DELIVERY LAUNCHED