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It is essential for developed nations to have adequate and functional infrastructure to sustain economic growth and well-being. Despite efforts to reduce the chances of infrastructure problems, several scholars have expressed concern about infrastructure standards deteriorating at an alarming rate and the need to ensure their sustainability. To achieve sustainable infrastructure development (SID), Sahely et al. (2005) proposed an uncomplicated strategy based on fundamental cooperation between infrastructure and ecological, economic, and social frameworks. Sustainable infrastructure is defined as the development and dependable management of a safe built environment based on efficient resource utilization and environmental standards. SID aims to mitigate or eliminate ecological problems and challenges while maximizing the potential social and economic benefits. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP, 2007) defines SID as infrastructure compatible with continued financial and environmental sustainability. Sustainable road development infrastructure (SRID) is a procedure for constructing infrastructure that incorporates all the essential sustainable development (SD) parameters and is complicated by the interdependence of multiple factors. Stakeholders are essential for the successful execution of infrastructure projects, and a comprehensive evaluation of stakeholder interests and requirements is necessary to achieve SRID goals while meeting the needs of all parties involved. To achieve SRID, it is necessary to understand the relationship between road infrastructure development (RID) processes and SD standards and to implement criteria and indicators that accurately depict the long-term viability of a development process. Al Sanad (2015) identified several factors that may impede the implementation of SD in the infrastructure sector. Shafii et al. (2006) identified insufficient knowledge of SID, lack of SID training, a perception of SID as expensive, acquisition concerns, administrative issues, expert capacities, and motivational factors for manufacturing local materials as potential obstacles. Serpell (2013) identified four categories of SID challenges, including knowledge, economic and financial, organizational, and go. Darko and Chan (2016) identified the most prevalent barriers as a lack of data, training, research, information, and expertise, high cost, government interest, premium and demand, and the absence of SID standards of practice. Azis et al. (2012) identified improved project efficiency, waste reduction in the construction industry, and energy efficiency as advantages of SID. Ametepey and Aigbavboa (2014) identified energy savings, environmental protection, contribution to a higher standard of living and a healthy work environment, resource preservation for future generations, reduction in lifecycle costs, promotion of sustainable economic development, and stakeholder satisfaction as the top benefits of sustainable construction (SC). Du Plessis (2007) identified technological factors, Al Sanad (2015) identified educational programmes, Serpell et al. (2013) identified transformation, economic, and stakeholder engagement as drivers of SC, and Hankinson and Breytenbach (2012) identified enhanced SC awareness. This chapter reviewed the literature on international infrastructure and sustainability development, discussing factors, and benefits promoting SID.

Indicators-based framework has been developed for the sustainability assessment of infrastructure projects but this framework has limitations in quantifying the qualitative parameters. The top-down approach that utilizes principles to assess the sustainability of infrastructure projects has the ability to consider qualitative parameters. The research on the development of principles-based approach is however limited and, in fact, the study on the development of principles to assess the sustainability of public–private partnerships (PPPs) infrastructure projects is in a nascent stage. The purpose of this study is the development of an empirical framework of guiding principles that will facilitate the assessment of PPPs from sustainability perspective. The study has used a grounded theory qualitative approach by using interviews and literature as primary and secondary data sources, respectively, to develop the framework of guiding principles to achieve goals of sustainable infrastructure development through PPPs. The framework comprises 18 guiding principles, which will act as guidelines to facilitate promotion of sustainable practices throughout the life cycle of PPP project so that sustainability goals can be accomplished. The guiding principles could be used as the qualitative parameters for public and private sector to assess the sustainability of PPP infrastructure projects. This chapter presents critical insights on principle-based approach for sustainability assessment of PPP projects, which has not been the focus in the majority of earlier studies.

The chapter is devoted to the factors aimed at optimizing the partnership of public and private sectors in the sphere of public infrastructure development. In modern conditions of economic slowdown and budget consolidation in Russia, the infrastructure has become the most important driver of economic growth and public–private partnership (PPP) – the most perspective form of cooperation of public and private investors of infrastructure projects. PPP interpretation as a structural relationship of economic system allows the authors to model optimal combination of formal and informal institutions in order to stimulate long-term economic growth. It becomes promising to model replacement of budget funds by private investment to ensure positive impact on the Russian development despite the budget consolidation. It could only be achieved in the case of formal institutionalization of appropriate conditions for private investors as to low transactional costs and attractive financial parameters. There have been determined some PPP standards connected with public infrastructure projects in order to reduce capital expenditures of the budget funds and increase the inflow of private investment. The authors have managed to obtain model estimates and graphic interpretation of government expenditures’ efficiency increase that could help to structure the fiscal conditions to induce positive multiplier effect as a result of PPP forms improvement in the public infrastructure development.

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 goals to address the world’s most pressing sustainable development (SD) concerns by 2030. Third-world countries have a lesser global environmental impact than developed countries, and account for 66% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Infrastructure development has a key role to play in establishing a green society, with approaches such as green policy, sustainable monitoring, and sustainability reports. Indirect and induced sustainable infrastructure development (SID) dominates the SDGs, with the goal of providing secure, acceptable, readily available, and efficient transportation networks by 2030. Road infrastructure development (RID) should become more sustainable considering depleting natural resources, fragile ecological circumstances, and limited financial resources. Sustainable road infrastructure projects (SRIPs) provide several advantages, such as increased economic efficiency, lower resource utilization, greater social well-being, and enhanced protection of natural services. However, incorporating SD prerequisites into highway infrastructure projects in developing countries has been difficult due to a variety of factors. Efforts to develop sustainability certification standards for infrastructure systems are recommended, and it is important to define relevant ideas and principles for SRIP implementation. However, incorporating SD prerequisites into highway infrastructure projects in developing countries has been difficult due to a variety of factors. Different people have varied ideas about sustainability. This book aims to provide a unified guideline to aid developing nations in undertaking SRIPs and to develop a SRIP implementation model. This chapter provided a background for the book; it also provided insight into its organization, foundation, and significance. It also discusses the objectives of the book and emphasized on the purpose and motivation for writing the book.

The chapter dwells on barriers for restoration and development of country's infrastructure on the platform of individual physical and practical forces, which are peculiar for the states with developing and transitional economy, as well as for developed countries. Directions of formation of the organizational model of restoration and development of country's infrastructure on the platform of individual physical and practical forces are presented; forms of public–private partnership are studied, as well as possibilities of financing. An important aspect is finding the mechanisms of leveling the risks according to the given classification. A mechanism of organizational model of controlling development of country's infrastructure and its structural elements are provided.

Targets set out by state institutions, with respect to supplying water to deprived communities, seem to be idealistic and not realistic. Study envisioned to assess challenges of financing water infrastructure projects, and determines the role of the state towards infrastructure development by holistically planning and engaging with the private sector.

The study adopted a quantitative approach, whereby a questionnaire survey was conducted among different stakeholders involved in water infrastructure projects in South Africa. Data gathered were analysed using percentages, mean item score and standard deviation.

The study revealed that most challenges affecting the success of the financing of water infrastructure projects in South Africa are corruption, hostility towards private participation, cost recovery constraints, high fiscal deficits by state government, unreliable planning and procurement processes, and a rapid increasing number of municipalities that lack technical and administrative capacity to plan implement, operate and maintain water assets.

This research paper investigates projects’ financing challenges with a broad inspection on the role of the public sector. The apparent role of the international structures such as OECD, IMF and World Bank had no influence in the study. From the findings, it is clear that the central government and state institutions lack the necessary resources to accelerate infrastructure development, water infrastructure in particular. The study, thus, recommends a complete expansion and development of state capacity as well as improved collaborations with the private sector to drive the success delivery of services to the public.

Improved and flexible regulations and legislative guidelines are required to ensure that both sectors fulfil their side of the bargain, with an ultimate goal of meeting the predetermined targets of supplying adequate water to the deprived communities.

In Africa, the public sector is very often not able per se to deliver the resources needed to assure access to basic public goods and services. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has heavily invested in infrastructure to help overcome these long enduring bottlenecks, which have hampered economic growth in the continent. Given the AfDB’s ambitious objectives of contributing significantly to development and poverty reduction, and its continued thrust into infrastructure development through New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Africa50, and a range of collaborations to leverage resources for the continent, it is useful to consider the nature of the Bank’s involvement in Public–Private partnerships (PPPs) and identify lessons learned and recommendations for improvement. The methodology employs mixed methods, with desk reviews, staff consultations and analytical analysis of project data from 2006 to 2014 in 18 countries. Lessons and recommendations are drawn from the ‘Evaluation Results Database’, covering the period 2001–2012 from projects in 12 countries and six sectors. Overall, 64.4% of the PPP volume of the AfDB’s portfolio was allocated to lower middle-income countries, with low-income countries receiving about a quarter. The energy sector accounted for over 78% of the total PPP volume. A pragmatic account of what was done and learned from PPP implementation processes over a decade in the African continent is provided in this chapter, together with successes and failures from the AfDB’s experience, as the Bank itself and a range of other Multilateral Development Banks and donors continue to scale up infrastructure financing in Africa.

This chapter is a case study on Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Colombia. The choice is justified by the significant progress of the country in this field and its ambitious plans to provide infrastructure and services through PPPs in the coming years. The infrastructure deficit and the evolution and current status of PPPs in Latin America frame the theme of the chapter. The case study itself explains the adoption of the PPP model in Colombia, describes the new legal and institutional framework and presents the most relevant PPP programmes and projects. The review carried out allows us to conclude that, despite the developments in recent years, PPP schemes continue to be very concentrated in the transport sector. For the effective development of the PPP model in the country, Colombia should extend such schemes to other fields, including the provision of social infrastructure and services. It should also improve some institutional aspects and project attractiveness to investors in order to increase the private capital required to finance PPP projects that currently are in the government portfolio. This chapter offers a general perspective on Colombian PPP, gathering and analyzing information for a better understanding of the current situation and the prospects for the future.

This article suggests that given the fulfilment of a number of preconditions Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) may be attractive instruments for countries in Africa seeking to improve the quality and competitiveness of their services base, particularly the so-called infrastructure services. This article builds, in addition to a selective review of the vast literature on PPPs, on first-hand practical experience on the ground and a number of pilot projects. This methodological approach provides a non-exhaustive PPP mapping in Africa, which in turn leads to a discussion of some of the challenges and risks to PPPs in Africa. It also covers a discussion of the recent trends in the approach to improving the enabling environment upon which are based a few policy recommendations, respectively: establishing an institutional framework for PPPs; designing a realistic and efficient strategy for enabling environment improvement; and finally moving from national-level initiatives to intergovernmental initiatives. This article takes the position that a series of pitfalls and shortcomings, many of which are associated with the enabling institutional environment and the governance framework, need to be addressed if PPPs are to deliver their full potential in Africa. It is believed that the national and intergovernmental PPP initiatives could lend significant support to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa. In addition to the reviewing and discussing primarily the most recent literature on PPPs, the main value addition of our chapter brings to the literature is derived from the presentation of recent PPP cases, which draw directly from the authors own practical experience on the ground.