Improvements in governance of strategic planning of public infrastructure investments 

At a time of increased pressure on government budgets at all levels, improving infrastructure governance can help ensure that scarce resources are used to pursue economic, social, and environmental priorities. Relatively low-cost changes to governance processes and practices and investments in capacity can have outsized effects on the effectiveness and efficiency of large infrastructure investments. Improving governance across sectors and levels of government can help increase the efficiency of investment spending and promote fiscal sustainability.

This project provides an overview of Czechia's public investment system across levels of government. It offers analysis and recommendations for strengthening institutional capabilities at the national and subnational levels for planning, co-ordinating, appraising and delivering infrastructure. By strengthening infrastructure investment systems at all levels, Czechia can improve its resilience and secure a more sustainable future.

Context

The general objective of the project was to contribute to institutional, administrative and growth-sustaining structural reforms in Czechia, with a view to enhancing resilience, competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, job creation, and investment. Czechia requested this technical support especially to improve the planning of infrastructure investments under SMART projects, innovative projects or environmental projects.

Support Delivered

1. Analysis of current practices in infrastructure investment planning and decision-making processes (central, regional and local administration level), identification of possible PPP projects, analysis of challenges and bottlenecks.

2. Benchmarking of best practices in public infrastructure planning and investment decision-making processes in relevant EU MS, covering.

3. Gap analysis

4. Policy recommendations based on the analysis of the current practices and based on the outcomes of the benchmarking analysis.

5. Comprehensive and coherent set of guidance materials on infrastructure investment planning and decision-making processes for public sector promoters.

6. Capacity-building workshops for project promoters on long-term infrastructure investment planning and decision-making processes (with focus on Value for Money and sustainability).

Result achieved

The ultimate objective of the project was to strengthen the Czech public sector’s expertise and capacity to prioritise, design and implement sound infrastructure investments on central, regional and local levels.

To this end, the project provided support for the sound, evidence based analysis of the existing public investment environment, which is an essential building block for further public investment reform.

The transfer of best international practises and respective capacity building will improve the capacity of the public sector to understand the existing investment environment, plan accordingly public investment projects and engage in a dynamic manner with private investors.

The project results contributed to the public investment reform and are expected to upend the recovery of the Czech economy and the building of its resilience.

More about the project

You can read the documents related to the project here: