CoST Initiative
Promoting transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects in Mozambique
CoST Mozambique (Member since 2019)
Prior to CoST: Public infrastructure in context
According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, in 2019 Mozambique was ranked 146 out of 198 countries, with a score of 26 out of 100. This was an increase of 12 places since the Index was published in 2018. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations' Electronic Governance Development Index, Mozambique scored 0.35 in 2020, placing it at 163 out of 193 countries globally.
At a workshop held jointly by CoST and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2019, it became clear that steps to enhance transparency and accountability are often already in place but are implemented in a fragmented and unsystematic manner. CoST's tools and standards value in this respect were to help align these efforts, join up approaches between government departments and reduce duplication across the whole of the sector. This would especially be pertinent as Mozambique continues to grapple with reconstruction after Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, and increases disaster preparedness with more resilient infrastructure.
CoST Mozambique: How it all began
In 2019, the Mozambique Road Fund submitted a membership application letter to the CoST board, as part of the CoST competitive process. The Road Fund's interest in joining CoST came as a result of the aforementioned workshop, which was held to explore the need for greater transparency and accountability in Mozambique's infrastructure sector. The workshop focussed on the CoST core pillars of independent review, publication of data, civic engagement and multi-stakeholder working and their potential impact in Mozambique.
The Road Fund, which hosts the CoST Mozambique programme, stated in its application that CoST could be a catalyst for addressing some of the challenges the country faces. Mozambique planned to publish data in line with the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) for projects carried out through the Integrated Feeder Road Development Project, and scale up to other sectors in the medium and long term of their membership.
To improve public engagement in these projects, the programme anticipated engagements with newspapers and community radio stations to disseminate information and results of the independent reviews on sampled projects in local dialects. At the launch of CoST Mozambique's programme in November 2019, CoST Board Deputy Chair George Ofori said:
"It is imperative the country rebuilds in a resilient and sustainable way: adopting the CoST approach to rural road repairs in affected areas – and potentially more widely in the future – will help ensure that projects are planned and implemented in a transparent, inclusive and accountable way, which will help achieve this long-term goal."
Due to the impact of Covid-19, CoST Mozambique's activities in 2019 were scaled back. However, a consultant was appointed to support the establishment of a Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) which was announced in 2020. Organisations represented on the MSG include the Road Fund, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Mozambican Federation of Transport Association and the Foundation for Community Development.
A scoping study
Following the launch of the programme, a scoping study was undertaken that measured the level of transparency in the sector, and provided recommendations for improvement. The scoping study results revealed that the legal and institutional landscape was applicable for the implementation of infrastructure transparency, sector challenges could easily be identified, the study highlighted key sector issues including over-invoicing, corruption / bribery, inefficient spending, lack of information and direct award (without tender).
CoST Mozambique emerged in a context of public investment management reforms (Decree 52/2020 of 3 July) that approved the Legal Framework for Public Investment Management in Mozambique with guiding principles for public investment, the objectives and the public investment management structure. There was a desire to implement CoST tools and standards in a collective action arrangement to identify governance constraints and promote reforms of the legal, institutional and policy framework, and their implementation in favor of greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in the development of public infrastructure.
Data publication
The Law for Access to Information (LDI) in Mozambique provides for the proactive publication of all information of public interest held by public entities, including institutions responsible for the development of public infrastructure. The scoping study found no confidentiality clauses or information considered a state secret that compromises the proactive publication of information. However, there are several institutional challenges that compromise the proactive and reactive publication of information.
To this end, CoST Mozambique working closely with the Road Fund, started developing an information platform for infrastructure projects, piloting with data from the roads sector. Initial conversations have ignited interest on the anticipated platform that is hoped to be published in late 2024.
Multistakeholder working
After the successful launch of the CoST Mozambique programme, a multi stakeholder group of 12 members from government, private sector and civil society was established, governance documents put in place, and a national secretariat defined. Championed by the World Bank, and Chaired by the Executive of the Roads Fund, the CoST Mozambique MSG is highly positioned to influence sector reforms.
Civic engagement
As the programme evolves, with efforts focused on promoting data publication, the Multi-Stakeholder Group faces the challenge of implementing a robust social accountability programme that encourages the use of data to influence sector reforms, institutionalizing the principles of transparency, accountability and participation.
CoST Approach
CoST works with government, private sector and civil society to promote the disclosure, validation and interpretation of data from infrastructure projects. This helps to inform and empower citizens, enabling them to hold decision-makers to account. The CoST core pillars are:
Disclosure
Ensuring infrastructure data is open and accessible
Assurance
Independent review of project data to verify accuracy
Multi-stakeholder
Bringing together government, industry and civil society
Social Accountability
Empowering citizens to hold decision-makers accountable
Information Platform Development
CoST Mozambique working closely with the Road Fund, started developing an information platform for infrastructure projects, piloting with data from the roads sector. Initial conversations have ignited interest on the anticipated platform that is hoped to be published in late 2024.
Future Plans
As the CoST Mozambique programme evolves, with efforts to champion data publication, the MSG is challenged with implementing a strong social accountability programme that will facilitate data use to influence sector reforms, and institutionalize transparency, accountability and participation in the sector.
About CoST International
The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) is the leading global initiative improving transparency and accountability in public infrastructure. CoST works with government, industry and civil society to promote the disclosure, validation and interpretation of data from infrastructure projects.
Visit CoST InternationalReferences and Relevant Documents
Contacts - CoST Mozambique
For more information about CoST Mozambique, please contact:
Agnes Prado
CoST Mozambique Manager
