CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) is one of the leading global initiatives improving transparency and accountability in public infrastructure.
CoST promotes the disclosure, validation and interpretation of data from infrastructure projects. This helps to inform and empower citizens and enables them to hold decision-makers to account. Our experience indicates that Informed citizens and responsive public institutions help drive reforms that reduce mismanagement, inefficiency, corruption and the risks posed to the public from poor quality infrastructure.
CoST works globally with members spanning four continents.
The CoST approach is focussed on four core features: multi-stakeholder working, disclosure, assurance and social accountability. These features provide a global standard for CoST implementation to further infrastructure transparency and accountability.
Whilst the standard is universally applied by CoST members, we encourage it to be adapted to country contexts, so that it is appropriately applied to different political, economic and social systems.
