Infrastructure Data Portal (UA0070)

Introducing international standards on information disclosure of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) in the Ministry of Infrastructure and publishing disclosed information at the infrastructure data public portal Implementation of an infrastructure project such as construction and repair of roads, construction of engineering networks, port infrastructure facilities is a complex process entailing excessive cost and high risks of corruption and poor management. The CMU has planned large-scale work on the restoration of transport infrastructure. The State Programme for the Development of Motor Roads by 2022 envisages investing UAH 300 billion in the road network. In general, the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 provides for investments in infrastructure up to USD 65 billion. Information on the procurement tenders on infrastructure projects in terms of their individual stages/elements, as well as tender results, is freely accessible at ProZorro Electronic Public Procurement portal. However, the information on planning and implementation and quality control phase is yet to be opened. It will simplify monitoring of infrastructure projects. Infrastructure data public portal is meant to unite all necessary information in one data set that will ease analysis and getting information on an infrastructure project. The portal will be based on international infrastructure data standard of CoST and OCDS standard. CoST IDS standard entails that an infrastructure project should be monitored at all stages of project implementation – from making a decision to support a project and project planning all the way the warranty period end. The standard provides for merging information on all contracts that relate to an infrastructure project in one dataset. Actions Responsible Timeframe Partners Indicator 1. Publishing data at the infrastructure data public portal MinInfrastructure Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoE) Ukravtodor (State Road Agency) December 2018 – March 2019 Transparency International Ukraine, Government-Civic Initiative “Together against Corruption,” CoST Advisory Group, UNDP in Ukraine, USAID and UK aid-funded Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services Program/TAPAS, Other CSOs and international organizations (upon their consent) Data on the repair of the roads of national importance are published at the infrastructure data public portal 4 2. Scaling-up information disclosure standards to new infrastructure projects (except for the roads) -//- January – December 2019 -//- Information on implementation of 2-4 infrastructure projects (except for the roads) by 1-2 companies subordinated to the MinInfrastructure is disclosed 3. Institutionalization of information disclosure standards on infrastructure projects MinInfrastructure MoE State Road Agency July 2019 – July 2020 Transparency International Ukraine, Government-Civic Initiative “Together against Corruption,” CoST Advisory Group, UNDP in Ukraine, USAID and UK aid-funded Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services Program/TAPAS, Other CSOs and international organizations (upon their consent) CMU Resolution on amending the CMU Resolution # 835 as of 21.10.2015 adopted Expected results of this activity are having a convenient tool for civic monitoring of infrastructure projects (road repair, construction and repair of airports, sea/river port terminals, railway stations, railroads, etc.) and analysis of market openness and useful statistics on infrastructure project development, level of competition, etc.

1. Introduce CoST standards

Language of the commitment as it appears in the action plan: [1] Introducing international standards on information disclosure of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) in the Ministry of Infrastructure and publishing disclosed information at the infrastructure data public portal

Information on the procurement tenders on infrastructure projects in terms of their individual stages/elements, as well as tender results, is freely accessible at ProZorro Electronic Public Procurement portal. However, the information on planning and implementation and quality control phase is yet to be opened. It will simplify monitoring of infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure data public portal is meant to unite all necessary information in one data set that will ease analysis and getting information on an infrastructure project.

The portal will be based on international infrastructure data standard of CoST and OCDS standard. CoST IDS standard entails that an infrastructure project should be monitored at all stages of project implementation – from making a decision to support a project and project planning all the way the warranty period end. The standard provides for merging information on all contracts that relate to an infrastructure project in one dataset.

Milestones:

1. Publishing data at the infrastructure data public portal
2. Scaling-up information disclosure standards to new infrastructure projects (except for the roads)
3. Institutionalization of information disclosure standards on infrastructure projects

Start Date: December 2018

End Date: July 2020

Context and objectives

This commitment builds from the previous action plan, which saw major progress in improving infrastructure transparency, [2] through the introduction of data standards, [3] portal integration, and requirements for mandatory publication of open data on construction and repair of roads of state significance. [4] However, apart from the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor), [5] other state infrastructure companies have not committed to a full disclosure of all their projects. This commitment aims to further improve the format for data publication, publish data on new infrastructure projects and scale up and institutionalize disclosure standards.

The text of the commitment is clear about the disclosure standards of data to be published, the number, and the legal act to be amended. Institutionalization is to be established by amending government resolution #835 on mandatory open datasets. [6] The infrastructure data portal already exists, but this commitment will unite all necessary information in one standardized dataset that will simplify analysis of infrastructure projects, [7] and is thus relevant to the OGP values of access to information and technology and innovation.

The updated portal could become an important tool for civic monitoring of infrastructure projects. The Ministry of Infrastructure (MoI) expects that the implementation of this commitment will increase the transparency of the use of public infrastructure funds, boost public awareness about infrastructure projects, and identify and prevent inefficient management and corruption risks. [8] An interviewed Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) expert expects the portal to contain an analytical module for less advanced users that automatically displays and visualizes procurement data, as well as planned and spent funds. [9] Moreover, according to the TAPAS representative, the updated portal will make it possible to connect the information on the usage of public funds available at CoST, ProZorro, and E-data, thereby linking procurement, spending, and implementation data. [10] Overall, this commitment could introduce important upgrades to the existing infrastructure portal and publication standards. It also promises to expand disclosure to new infrastructure projects that could improve transparency of large-scale public projects that are prone to corruption risks. Therefore, the potential impact of this commitment is moderate.

Next steps

This commitment should be among open government priorities for Ukraine since it could advance infrastructure transparency. To reflect these aspirations, the government can set up more ambitious objectives in the fifth action plan. In particular,

• The CoST standards could be expanded to cover a greater number of infrastructure projects. Following successful pilot projects, the government might consider full disclosure of all projects by involved state companies. Namely, these might be the National Power Company (Ukrenergo), the Municipal Cooperation Kyivavtodor, regional state administrations, and Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) and ports.

1. Introduce CoST standards

Completion: Substantial

The online portal on infrastructure data (Construction Sector Transparency Initiative [CoST] Portal) started publishing a significant amount of previously unavailable information. It provides data on the repair of public roads (at the state, regional, and local levels). ^[72] It gathers data from the national agency and 11 regional authorities (up from three regional authorities at the end of 2018). ^[73] Over 100 residents of Ukraine have used CoST Portal e-tools for monitoring. Due to their civic oversight, approximately 40 kilometers of local roads have been repaired. [74]

The government adopted decree #409, which requires data on the construction, reconstruction, and repair of public roads be published using the CoST standards. ^[75] In practice, information on the portal meets newer standards (Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard), ^[76] but this has not been institutionalized in legislation yet. In September 2019, the Ministry of Infrastructure assumed the responsibility of the CoST online platform. ^[77]

In addition to publishing data on roads, the government is consulting with seaport and railway state enterprises about publishing infrastructure project data using the CoST standard. (The government has prepared a memorandum of cooperation with air traffic services.) Thus, information on the implementation of other infrastructure projects may be published in the future on the CoST Portal. ^[78]