Infrastructure plays a vital role in driving economic, social, and cultural transformation.
For society to function effectively, it requires essential physical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and railways that facilitate travel; electricity lines that power homes and workplaces; airports that enable long-distance travel; and water systems that manage waste and provide clean drinking water.
To remain a force for good and sustainability, both existing infrastructure and future projects must adapt to the world’s evolving challenges. But what does “good infrastructure” look like, and how can decision-making improve to achieve it?
Defining “Infrastructure for Good“
Deloitte and The Economist Impact’s “Infrastructure for Good” (IFG) initiative is a research program that explores what inclusive and sustainable infrastructure means and how to support it. The initiative provides governments with a roadmap for prioritizing infrastructure projects that best meet societal and community needs, helping them build better lives and stronger economies.
At the heart of this research is the Infrastructure for Good (IFG) Barometer, which compares the capacity of 30 countries to sustainably deliver efficient and high-quality infrastructure that addresses economic, social, and environmental needs.
Unlike other studies that focus on individual projects, this research evaluates how countries create the conditions for broader, positive change.
The IFG Barometer uses both quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess how effectively countries provide quality infrastructure sustainably. It focuses on five key pillars:
- Governance and planning
- Sustainable financing and investment
- Social and community impact
- Economic benefits and empowerment
- Environmental sustainability and resilience
Key insights from the infrastructure for good report
The inaugural report highlights several insights into how countries are performing across these pillars:
- Strong Governance Foundations: Governance and planning scored highest overall, showing that many nations have the basic foundations for good infrastructure. However, improvements in execution and financing are needed to achieve better economic, social, and environmental results. Canada and the UK are standout performers.
- Investment Gaps in Developed Economies: While developed countries generally perform well in infrastructure investment, access, and sustainability, they lag in coordination and conducting national needs assessments.
- Weak Social Impact Planning: The social and community impact pillar scored the lowest, with fewer than 25% of countries requiring social impact assessments for new projects. In more than 60% of countries, community engagement is irregular or ad hoc.
- Mixed Environmental Performance: Many countries lack consistent monitoring and resilience strategies to protect ecosystems and address climate change.
- Economic Benefits Unevenly Distributed: Most countries benefit from infrastructure, but emerging markets still lag in connectivity and competitiveness. However, clean energy infrastructure is driving job creation in many of these economies.
- Financing Challenges for Social Projects: European countries have smaller investment gaps overall but struggle to fund projects that prioritize social and environmental outcomes.
- The Ecosystem Approach: The report urges countries to treat infrastructure as an interconnected ecosystem rather than isolated assets, helping address social challenges and create jobs, particularly in clean energy sectors.
Case studies: Infrastructure for good in action
The IFG report is complemented by videos, podcasts, and case studies showcasing how sustainable infrastructure drives global progress. These examples illustrate the real-world application of the infrastructure for good philosophy:
- Canada – Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project:
Led by Indigenous nations, this project aims to build one of Canada’s first commercially viable geothermal electricity plants. Expected to be operational by 2026, the US$100 million project will generate 7–15 MW of clean energy, enough to power 14,000 homes sustainably. - India – Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission:
Launched in 2014, this national campaign combats open defecation and improves sanitation infrastructure. With a total budget of about US$29 billion, it has built over 109 million household toilets and declared more than 280,000 villages and 4,000+ cities open-defecation-free. Phase 2 (2020–2025) aims to improve solid and liquid waste management for 80% of rural households. - Japan – Kitakyushu SDG Future City:
Once an industrial city plagued by pollution, Kitakyushu has transformed into a model of sustainability, emphasizing renewable energy, waste management, and the circular economy. Its Eco-Town serves as Japan’s most extensive recycling base and a symbol of its environmental resurgence.
Together, these examples show how countries can combine governance, innovation, and community engagement to achieve infrastructure that genuinely serves the public good.
Conclusion
As the global infrastructure landscape evolves, it’s clear that building for good requires a holistic, inclusive, and sustainable approach.
The Infrastructure for Good framework provides both the data and direction to help governments plan smarter, invest wisely, and deliver infrastructure that empowers people and protects the planet.
Sources:
Delivering infrastructure for good. (2025). Deloitte. Retrieved from https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/services/consulting-financial/about/infrastructure-for-good.html?
Infrastructure for Good. (2025). Economist Impact. Retrieved from https://impact.economist.com/projects/infrastructure-for-good/
Good, Building for a better world. (2024). Economist Impact. Retrieved from https://impact.economist.com/projects/infrastructure-for-good/TEI_Deloitte_Infrastructure_for_Good_Key_Findings_Report.pdf
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