InternatIonal relIef & Development

may 2012

An IntegrAted ApproAch

to Infrastructure

Community Outreach and

Capacity Building

Policy AdvisoryCapacity Building

PartnershipEconomic Development

Comm

un

ity

G

ovErnmEnt Pr

ivAtE SECtor

risk mitigation &

Capacity Building

opportunitytraining

Assistance

Engagementmobilization

Awareness

communIty outreAch And

capacIty BuIlDIng

use of the cocB model improves

government buy-in and community

acceptance, reduces risk, and increases

local capacity to deliver high-quality

projects – and maintain them after they

are completed. While the approach is

tailored to each project, the overarching

goal is to support our clients to manage

their infrastructure needs independently

for the long term. this capacity must be

developed among all three stakeholders.

Ird has learned that improvement in one

sector without gains in the others does not

generally lead to long-term growth and

improved overall capacity.

The COCB Model

rebuilding infrastructure in nations

emerging from conflict or natural disaster

requires capacities beyond those required

by typical construction projects. Since

1998, Ird has worked with thousands

of communities, contractors, and

government bodies to design and manage

infrastructure development projects on

both small- and very large-scale. Key to

our success working in unstable, kinetic,

and other difficult environments is use

of the service model we developed called

community outreach and capacity building

(cocB). the cocB approach ensures

successful project delivery by addressing

the capacity needs of three core players in

the infrastructure sector: the government

and public sector, the private sector, and

beneficiary communities.

IRD has learned that improvement in one sector

without gains in the others does not generally lead

to long-term growth and improved overall capacity.

Benefits of COCB

A community’s infrastructure is the

most visible measure of its stability and

economic development. residents and

visitors alike can easily gauge the number

and condi tion of schools, healthcare

facilities, water systems, power grids,

and roads. While Ird’s clients and donors

specify their infrastructure needs, our

community-based approaches support

project implementation and simultaneously

build capacity for the long term. projects

that benefit from this approach include:

• projects in high-risk areas, conflict or

post-conflict zones, and remote and

rural communities

• horizontal projects affecting multiple

communities over a long distance, such

as roads, railways, pipelines, and power

transmission lines

• Large-scale projects requiring

construction of industrial or support

facilities such as mineral extraction,

energy development, and

government facilities

• donor-funded projects that are

evaluated by results and long-term

impact

Targeted Capacity Building

In Afghanistan, where Ird successfully

applied the cocB model on a very large

road and bridge construction project

in 2008–2011, the engineering and

construction industry had seriously

atrophied as a result of decades of conflict.

donors and contractors working there were

challenged by the high-risk environment

and the low technical and managerial

capacity of local firms. the national

government was also challenged to develop,

complete, and maintain projects. Ird met

these challenges with a variety of tailored

tools and training programs:

• on-the-job mentoring for design-build

contracts to local firms

• creation of a construction trade

vocational school

• development of a mentor-protégé

program to train local staff in various

job skills

• training of subcontractors in

construction methodology and contract

and financial management

• training of technical monitors in quality

assurance and field monitoring

• design of labor-intensive construction

programs for combat-aged men

• provision of long-term advisory services

and mentoring to government ministries

• development of a gIS-based monitoring

system to track projects country-wide

• development of an internship program

for university engineering students

As a result of these responses, the capacity

of government to budget, plan, and oversee

infrastructure construction greatly

increased. In addition, dozens of local firms

now have the ability to bid on, manage,

and complete complex infrastructure

construction projects.

While IRD’s clients and donors specify their

infrastructure needs, our community-based

approaches support project implementation and

simultaneously build capacity for the long term.

1 Successful community development programs comply with host-country government regulations and ensure that beneficiaries receive the maximum benefits. IRD procedures assure compliant disbursement of funds with documented results – a key to success in high-risk environments.

Community Engagement

community buy-in and support are

sometimes difficult to gain but Ird knows

both are essential. Small communities,

especially in hard-to-reach or rural areas,

may have limited information, suffer

from low literacy, or do not communicate

regularly with government agencies based

in metropolitan areas. Without adequate

outreach and engagement, community

members may view the disruption created

by large construction programs as against

their interests, and this loss of goodwill

increases risk. once a community accepts

the project, the dialogue must continue,

addressing new issues as they arise to

prevent or mitigate conflict. the continuous

outreach also assists in addressing any

short-term losses that may occur, such as of

land or homes.

Well-planned infrastructure development

projects address community priorities.

Ird helps identify these priorities

through outreach, dialogue, and rapid

needs assessments. Ird has worked with

thousands of communities worldwide

to identify and prioritize community

development needs. We also employ

local staff whenever possible to adapt

this community engagement approach

to the particular project. Among the

many strategies we employ to engage

communities are:

• outreach and dialogue with

community leaders

• hiring and training of community project

representatives

• mobilization of community leaders for

decision-making

• Inclusion strategies to broaden

community ownership and support

• conflict mitigation to address issues as

they arise

• Information sharing and media

campaigns

• comprehensive community needs

assessments

• Implementation of small grants programs

to address gender, livelihoods, small

infrastructure, and other needs

• development of processes for redress of

land acquisition

• procedures to ensure compliant

disbursement of funds1

• rigorous monitoring and evaluation and

reporting procedures

Meeting the Government’s Needs

strengthen this capacity, Ird has developed

the following processes:

• Baseline and gap analysis within

government oversight organizations

• partnering, mentoring, and shadowing

for knowledge transfer

• relationship building with stakeholders

and associations

• policy advisory services, including

planning and risk assessment

• training in management and specific

construction disciplines

• training in use of industry-standard

software and technology

Building a nationwide transportation

or energy network requires access to

information as well as expertise in planning

and management. While donor funding

aids the process, government agencies

must also have adequate resources and

oversight capacity to maximize the benefits

and sustainability of public facilities. to

COCB for Infrastructure

outreach capacity Building

community & stakeholder management

training & Development programs

• outreach & promotion• needs assessment• conflict resolution• ongoing dialogue

• needs-based grants• training & mentoring• economic opportunity• labor-based projects

• community & local government support & inclusion• Investment yields maximum benefits• monitoring & evaluation of impact on community• overall risk reduction

Addressing Private Sector Needs

to succeed over the long term, local

contractors must complete progressively

larger and more complex projects. Ird can

facilitate this by advising donors and prime

contractors on how to adapt the tender

process to the capacity level of the region

or country. In addition, we can provide

linkages to other donors and stakeholders

to fill in gaps, for example, access to banking

services, credit, or insurance.

In many emerging markets, construction

contracting firms are newer businesses competing

in a rapidly growing market.

In many emerging markets, construction

contracting firms are newer businesses

competing in a rapidly growing market. In

Afghanistan, the influx of foreign aid and

the transition to country-led development,

the need for local firms with strong design

and construction capabilities was stronger

than ever. While the capacity of these

firms is increasing and industry leaders

are emerging, many will require continued

support from organizations like Ird to

succeed. the same is true in many other

developing and post-conflict countries.

In countries like Kosovo, Jordan, ethiopia,

Afghanistan, and elsewhere, Ird has

implemented the following strategies to

increase private sector capacity:

• training programs in collaboration with

trade associations and technical facilities

• Internships for university students in

design, construction, quality assurance,

and project controls

• development of a construction

vocational training center

• training classes in design, scheduling,

quality assurance, and management

• contracting for on-the job experience

• provision and training in use of industry-

standard software

• development of alternate contracting

strategies to address risk factors and

ensure an achievable scope of work

• on-the-job mentoring and partnerships

• provision of community outreach and

support to ensure successful project

completion

Ird’s mission is to reduce the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable groups and provide tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency.

InternatIonal relIef & Development | 1621 north Kent Street, 4th fLoor | ArLIngton, VA 22209

t 703.248.0194 | f 703.248.0194 | WWW.Ird.org

Partnering with IRD

Ird has staff on hand who can visit your

project site or office, and we have a large

network of strategic partners and in-country

relationships to support your project. We

also offer professional consulting services

in program development and can mobilize

staff quickly to any part of the world. our

project development services include

concept paper development, development

of requests for proposals, feasibility studies,

and risk analysis. Ird’s other operating units

employ a vast array of experts in logistics,

agriculture, community stabilization,

health, governance, and relief who can

assist with your programs as needed. Ird

is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia,

and maintains offices worldwide. for more

information on our capacities and services,

contact director of program operations

gilbert richard (grichard@ird-dc.org).