Infrastructure asset management’s role in a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19

Infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and underpins sustainable development. A recent study by UNOPS and the University of Oxford demonstrated this point by showing that infrastructure can influence the achievement of up to 92 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. However, in many developing countries, the quality of infrastructure is below par which makes the achievement of SDG targets a challenge.    

The pandemic has exposed our fragility, reinforcing the urgent need to repair, rethink and invest in infrastructure that will meet our needs in a challenging environment and support the achievement of the SDGs. More than ever, improved infrastructure management is needed as a catalyst for economic recovery, necessary for human development.    

This event will highlight the importance of infrastructure asset management and how it can help countries get back on track to meet the SDGs and accelerate recovery. Furthermore, it will highlight the work of several UN agencies working in this area, including the recent UN Handbook on infrastructure asset management and discuss lessons learned from delivering infrastructure asset management projects in collaboration with host governments.