CoST El Salvador released the results of our Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI), for 2022 and 2023 which provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis on the levels of transparency and quality of processes in the country’s public infrastructure by evaluating 23 institutions and 43 projects.
The ITI is an essential tool designed to measure transparency and quality in public infrastructure processes related to public infrastructure, promoting a more effective, inclusive and sustainable public infrastructure. In addition, the ITI seeks to enable international comparisons and increase accountability.
The ITI implementation process included the preparation of the evaluation team and establishment of criteria to select the sample of entities and projects to be evaluated; the evaluation of the four dimensions of the ITI (Enabling Environment, Information Publication, Capacities and Processes, and Citizen Participation); data processing; and the generation of results reports.
The public institutions evaluated include Mayors’ offices and municipalities (55%), Autonomous institutions (22%), Hospitals (9%), Ministries and central government (7%), Governors’ offices (4%), Public and autonomous companies (1%) .
In total, the invested money for the infrastructure projects evaluated, according to data from the Institute for Access to Public Information of El Salvador, was $ 473.9 million executed by 23 entities during the two years.
Results
The overall results of the ITI show there are many opportunities to improve transparency in public projects. The national score reached 36.77 points out of a possible 100.
The scores for dimensions 1 and 4 are similar: 54.80 and 56.90, respectively. The regulatory framework is linked to the publications of informal information and the national information platforms available.
Capacities and processes (14.17) and citizen participation (11.74) are the weakest components due to the low participation in completing the surveys.
Compared to other countries, the ITI average for El Salvador is lower than the international average. In the American continent, where the ITI has been implemented, only El Salvador and Ecuador are below the average.
Opportunities for improvement
Among the main weaknesses identified, the lack of training programs for the publication of information and low citizen participation, as well as the lack of feedback on the use of public information stand out.
This report underscores the urgent need to improve transparency in public infrastructure in El Salvador. By highlighting specific areas of weakness and providing comparisons with international standards, the analysis facilitates learning and continuous improvement.
It is also a call to action for all stakeholders to work together towards a more transparent and effective public infrastructure.
For instance, CoST El Salvador will send communication to all entities to motivate them to be part of training sessions so in the future they can apply their knowledge to improve their score and transparency practices.
It is intended to receive support from international cooperation to develop capacity building workshops at the local level and for key actors throughout the country. In this process academia will play a significant role.
Encouraging local and national regions to use the Infrastructure Transparency Index to publish and review infrastructure data to enhance accountability, participation and transparency is a key area of our work. The ITI is open to all – not just CoST members.
Download: ITI Report – El Salvador 2024
For more information, visit the Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) website: https://infrastructuretransparencyindex.org/
