The Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) is intended to reduce corruption on construction projects by making more information available for public scrutiny. Supported by DFID and the World Bank, it brings together the essential players in publicly funded construction projects, including government ministries and agencies, construction companies, and civil society. Working on the principle of “Get What You Pay For” it centres on making information readily available to, and accessible by, the public. Such information will include:

• the purpose and location of a project;
• its projected cost, and specification; and
• the quality and cost of the final outcome.

Following a successful conference hosted by DFID in June 2007, several countries, including Tanzania, Zambia, Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to implement this initiative on a 2 year pilot basis. The pilot phase was officially launched in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in May 2008. At this event it was stated that the UK was looking at how best to participate in the initiative.