Sustainable, affordable, and cost-efficient infrastructure services are a fundamental pillar of long-term development. Evidence shows that weak governance arrangements for infrastructure decision-making and implementation impede asset creation and operation. Governance is therefore a critical driver of sector performance, as well as a key determinant of the fiscal risks and investment climate for private finance. It is complex and multifaceted, posing significant challenges along different stages of the infrastructure supply chain, and encompassing both regulatory and institutional dimensions.

The purpose of this guidance note is to provide an overview of the relevant issues to be considered when assessing a country’s infrastructure governance framework. Many countries struggle to put sound infrastructure governance frameworks in place. It is therefore important to evaluate the quality of infrastructure governance at the country level, benchmark performance against international good practices among peer groups, identify serious gaps, and prioritize reform interventions. This framework provides an overview of the governance that leads to quality infrastructure and offers resources and methodologies for conducting such an assessment. The aim  is to provide actionable recommendations that result in concrete policy changes. Key success factors are the achievement of country buy-in and a focus on pressure points that are ripe for reform.