How 3 countries have broken down silos in infrastructure planning

Much like the construction industry, governments around the world struggle with siloed working.

This isolated approach can lead to conflicting projects, missed targets, and an overall lack of direction.

It can even stop a country from delivering the infrastructure that its population needs.

To make the most out of investment in infrastructure, it’s important to have a clear vision and support from all stakeholders.

How are countries breaking down silos?

To explore this further, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ICE-convened Enabling Better Infrastructure (EBI) programme hosted a virtual event.

At the event, government officials shared how they’ve been able to break down silos by including a wider group of stakeholders in infrastructure financing and planning.

Speakers at the event included:

• Haward Wells, director, National Integrated Planning and Programme (NIPP) Unit, government of Saint Lucia;
• Ignacio Araya Areyuna, head, Ministry of Public Works, government of Chile; and
• Dr Jenifer Baxter, deputy chair, National Infrastructure Commission Wales.

Here are the key takeaways:

Saint Lucia: engaging all stakeholders to implement a national plan

Saint Lucia established the NIPP Unit in 2018.

Since then, Haward and his team have focused on working with senior officials, all levels of government, and the private sector to implement a strategic infrastructure plan.

Having an agreed plan will allow infrastructure projects to continue undisturbed when the government changes.

Howard provided three examples of how barriers were broken down.

1. Political buy-in:

The NIPP unit engaged with senior officials to obtain buy-in on the plan.

This included lobbying the office of the prime minister and the opposition.

This meant that when the opposition leader was elected as prime minister, he was already on board with the strategic infrastructure plan.

2. Constant outreach:

The NIPP unit develops communication plans for every project.

A team is assigned to each project, and they work to ensure the public is aware of key activities.

This helps to break down silos between the planning sectors, ensuring that everyone has a say in what’s taking place.

3. Public-private partnerships:

With the help of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Oxford University, the NIPP unit developed a plan to help fund projects through the private sector. They did this through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

PPPs help fund projects that address Saint Lucia’s climate change concerns, such as the wastewater treatment system.

PPPs have helped deliver infrastructure across sectors, ensuring much-needed projects could be planned and financed.

Since then, Saint Lucia has improved the quality of infrastructure projects, such as the new cruise port redevelopment project.

Chile: working with all levels of government to deliver a 30-year vision

Chile is in the process of developing its 30-year Infrastructure Master Plan, which is expected in 2025.

To implement the plan, Chile will work with several ministries at each level of government that are relevant to infrastructure development. This includes public works, transport, and finance.

Chile plans to:

1. Use a bottom-up approach to guide stakeholders:

This approach encourages participation from all stakeholders below the national level.

The Chilean government has set up opportunities for citizens, subnational governments and ministries to input on the country’s long-term strategic vision.

These opportunities allow different stakeholders to learn from each other and help develop more trusting relationships.

2. Discourage competition between projects:

Ignacio and his team have created a model to help discourage competition between projects.

The model also promotes territorial approaches to infrastructure planning to ensure local needs are accounted for.

Using the model means larger infrastructure projects don’t compete for the same resources that smaller infrastructure projects need.

As such, resources are allocated evenly.

3. Use assessment tools:

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (EnABLE) tool was created to promote sustainable development in Chile. It incorporates environmental considerations into infrastructure plans.

Doing so ensures environmental stakeholders are included in infrastructure decision-making.

The Chilean government also uses the EnABLE tool to identify specific challenges, needs, and opportunities.

This has helped Chile integrate the 10 International Good Practices into their planning model.

Chile has been taking stakeholder needs into account more, with projects now in progress that respond to these needs.

For example, the central government is working with the indigenous Chango people to deliver maritime and coastal port infrastructure.

Wales: using legislation to ensure public bodies share a common objective

Since its devolution in 1998, Wales has focused on the wellbeing of future generations, which includes sustainable development.

Dr Baxter explained two ways they have done this:

1. Setting a common goal through sustainable development legislation:

The Wales Act 1998 states that the country has a duty to promote sustainable development.

Wales was one of the first countries in the world to have this as a constitutional duty.

Coming into force in 2015, the Well-being of Future Generations Act includes seven wellbeing goals for national and local governments, local health boards, and other specific bodies.

The act is legally binding. Any state-funded organisation must deliver infrastructure using the wellbeing goals (based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals).

Both pieces of legislation have guided public bodies to deliver infrastructure with common objectives in mind, removing any silos.

2. Using the five ways of working as a guide for public bodies:

The Well-being of Future Generations Act outlines five ways in which public bodies should work.

The purpose is to help public bodies work better with people, communities, and each other.

It looks to prevent problems and take a more joined-up approach.

This provides an opportunity for everyone to have input on what they want to see in Wales.

Since taking these steps, Wales has given greater consideration to how infrastructure will be used in the future.

For example, Wales now considers transport systems that will require very different fuels and builds electricity into new transport networks.

About the ICE-UNEP joint event

This is the second event hosted by UNEP and the ICE-led EBI programme.

Watch the recording of the entire event.

The first event, which took place in May 2023, explored how governments are using policy to make infrastructure more sustainable. Catch up.