OECD Infrastructure Toolkit

Develop a long term strategic vision for infrastructure

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Strategic vision

A necessary condition for a successful infrastructure programme is to develop a national long-term strategic vision that addresses current and future infrastructure needs and is aligned with governments’ long-term strategic objectives.

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Note: The OECD average values do not include data for the United States as it does not have a national long-term cross-sectoral infrastructure plan.

Why is this important?

Sound long-term strategic planning is indispensable for the successful delivery of infrastructure projects. It requires alignment with a country’s development aims and economic conditions across sectors. Weak or insufficient planning disrupts infrastructure delivery impeding resource optimisation, coordination, implementation and operation. Designing a clear and coherent long-term strategic plan is challenging, yet integrating some pivotal processes can help propel countries towards quality infrastructure.

Adoption of a long-term infrastructure plan in OECD countries, 2020

Alignment of the infrastructure strategic vision with policy objectives in OECD countries, 2020

Co-ordination mechanisms used during the formulation (or revision) of the most recent long-term infrastructure plan in OECD countries, 2020

How to develop a long-term strategic vision
for infrastructure?

Define an institutional framework for infrastructure

Key actions to take when defining the institutional framework for infrastructure:

  • Identify which institutions at national and subnational levels should be involved, making sure to map all actors across the entire infrastructure life cycle
  • Entrust institutions with clear and consistent mandates, preventing to the extent possible any overlaps in responsibilities both in terms of infrastructure sectors and functions (policymaking, planning and execution)
  • Provide entities with ample decision making powers and allocate sufficient financial resources to ensure their ability to react more promptly to evolving situations
  • Upskill and build capacity amongst infrastructure workforce on a regular basis
  • Identify, establish, and adequately resource a team to develop, monitor and update the long-term strategic vision; this could be a unit within a existing government entity or an independent strategic infrastructure planning body
  • Define robust co-ordination mechanisms for infrastructure policy within and across levels of government, as well as between jurisdictions

Assess current and future infrastructure needs

Key actions to take into account in the assessment of infrastructure needs include:

  • Adopting a methodology for the assessment of current infrastructure needs, which should be inclusive of under-represented and vulnerable groups
  • Informing the assessment through a rigorous analysis of evidence and data, which should provide insights on infrastructure access, service levels and demand
  • Projecting needs into the future and taking into account future risks and uncertainties, for instance through the use of strategic foresight tools
  • Identifying how infrastructure investments can actively contribute to broader long-term development goals
  • Liaising with line ministries and agencies responsible for different infrastructure sectors to take into account complementarities, promote synergies and limit possibilities for overlap
  • Involving subnational governments in the process of identifying infrastructure needs, making sure to address concerns related to regional disparities and urban-rural gaps
  • Evaluating performance of existing assets to determine whether maintenance, adaptation or retrofitting solutions could replace the need for new assets

Engage key stakeholders

Key actions to take when engaging stakeholders in the development of the long-term strategic vision :

  • Establish a detailed process for the public consultation of the strategic vision and subsequent plans and documents to be formulated
  • Map thoroughly the key stakeholders involved, identifying and addressing participation barriers faced by under-represented and vulnerable populations
  • Disseminate information to targeted audiences proactively, facilitating access to documents and readily-available data
  • Enable easily accessible platforms (both in-person and virtually) that allow for continuous, inclusive, social and open dialogues
  • Involve key stakeholders starting from the early stages of needs assessment, to learn their view on their own infrastructure-based needs
  • Engage proactively with stakeholders keeping them updated of relevant developments and seek out their feedback

Draft a long-term infrastructure plan

Some of the characteristics of the plan include:

  • Established long-term time horizon; a long-term plan generally ranges between 10 to 20 years
  • Definition of the scope of the strategy, framing the choice of what to build within a vision for the country’s future
  • Cross-sectoral approach, taking into account synergies and trade-offs between sectors
  • Measurable goals and targets to be achieved through the infrastructure investment programme
  • Pipeline or short-list indicating priority projects
  • Explanation of the purposes and objectives for each of the projects selected and their alignment with the overarching infrastructure strategy
  • Timelines illustrating project phases and milestones
  • Publication of the strategy and transparency requirements in relation to its development

Ensure broad-base political consensus, affordability and fiscal sustainability

  • Coordinate closely, discuss and consult the vision with the Ministry of Finance
  • Estimate the costs of programmes and projects, making sure to account for costs across the entire life cycle (i.e., design, construction, operation, maintenance, adaptation, decommissioning)
  • Adopt tools and processes that link the allocation of public resources to the strategic infrastructure vision
  • Identify sources of financing, including private sector participation when applicable
  • Discuss and seek cabinet’s approval of the long-term infrastructure plan
  • Present the long-term infrastructure plans to parliament to ensure political consensus over the definition of the strategic vision

Monitor and update the plan regularly

Key actions to take into account in the monitoring and update of the plan include:

  • Define specific indicators to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the long-term plan
  • Conduct on a regular basis a technical assessment of infrastructure needs and stock take of existing infrastructure
  • Keep track of rapidly evolving technologies, environmental or climate change hazards and behavioural changes in society to adapt strategic plans accordingly
  • Establish a formal process to update the long-term infrastructure plan, ensuring this update is undertaken at fixed time intervals
  • Ensure strategic plans are formulated in a way that are flexible enough to adapt to changing contexts

Country case studies

Related publications

Learn more about OECD analysis on long-term strategic vision for infrastructure:

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