Infrastructure

Beyond the Baseline

How infrastructure can deliver transformative outcomes for people and the planet

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In this thought leadership series, we explore how infrastructure projects can leverage the once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformative outcomes at scale.

In September 2021, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) released its Transformative Outcomes through Infrastructure initiative, which examined the $3.2 trillion in infrastructure stimulus announced by G20 countries between February 2020 and August 2021. The initiative identified the stimulus spend was targeting a range of transformative outcomes across six core categories: environmental sustainability, inclusivity, resilience, digital and InfraTech, research and development and economic development.

Alongside business-as-usual spending, this spend represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve these transformative outcomes at scale. Embedding the commitment and capacity to realizing these transformative outcomes through infrastructure now will deliver an array of benefits for both current and future generations. However, while the urgency and the need for infrastructure to do more is clear, the “how” is not.

Delivering on the promise to “build back better” requires a step change in the way we conceptualize and deliver infrastructure projects. In the past, projects may have addressed one or two transformative outcomes. Today, executive sponsors and infrastructure program and project teams must embrace as many, if not all, of these transformative outcomes at every investment opportunity.

The Beyond the Baseline series explores how infrastructure can deliver transformative outcomes for people and the planet.

Bryan Harvey Introduction to Beyond the Baseline paper

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Introduction to the Beyond the Baseline series from Bryan Harvey, Jacobs

Paper 1 - Leading infrastructure teams

Paper one introduces the Global Infrastructure Hub’s Transformative Outcomes through Infrastructure initiative and the 13 transformative outcomes being targeted by short-term infrastructure stimulus spending, post-pandemic, and discusses the changing role of infrastructure in delivering more for people and the planet.

Achieving such transformative outcomes hinges on whether collective infrastructure sector leadership can justify solutions capable of meeting all transformative outcomes and inspire infrastructure project teams to challenge themselves to deliver beyond what they have typically done prior.

Are our current and emerging infrastructure leaders ready and able to lead the charge on achieving each transformative outcome?

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Paper 2 - Inspiring infrastructure teams

To inspire infrastructure program and project teams we need to clearly articulate the level of positive impact they are seeking to achieve for each transformative outcome. This clarity is fundamental to inspiring teams to provide infrastructure that delivers more and lasts longer.

How can we differentiate transformative outcomes and impacts from what infrastructure has typically delivered?

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Paper 3 - Mobilizing & equipping infrastructure teams

Infrastructure programs and projects are fundamentally transitory activities, involving people and entities who are often working together for the first time. It can take weeks, months or sometimes years for teams to form a shared understanding of the actors, actions and initiatives that drive transformative outcomes. We need to mobilize and equip infrastructure programs and projects to have an immediate focus on transformative outcomes.

How can we equip program and project teams to quickly and effectively reach a shared appreciation of these transformative outcomes?

Coming soon

Read the series executive summary

Beyond the Baseline: How infrastructure can deliver transformative outcomes

(PDF, 1.18 MB)

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Read the full paper here

Beyond the Baseline Part 1: Leading infrastructure teams to deliver transformative outcomes

Download the full paper (PDF, 8.7MB)
Read the full paper here

Beyond the Baseline Part 2: Achieving a positive level of impact to deliver transformative outcomes

Download the full paper (PDF, 10.5 MB)

Introducing our collaboration partner on Paper One, the Global Infrastructure Hub

Formed by the G20, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) is a not-for-profit organization that advances the delivery of sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure. The GI Hub collaborates with the public and private sectors to produce data, insights, knowledge tools and programs that inform both policy and infrastructure delivery. These resources help decisionmakers and practitioners take action to create positive impacts through infrastructure.

Released in November 2021, the GI Hub’s Transformative Outcomes Through Infrastructure initiative tracks how the $3.2 trillion in global infrastructure stimulus will be spent across countries and infrastructure sectors and explores the outcomes it aims to achieve.