NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Economic growth and infrastructure development in support of the Sustainable Development Goals go hand in hand. A growing economy needs to constantly improve infrastructure to ensure smooth and efficient production and exchange of goods and services. Infrastructure Development contributes to economic growth and creates jobs.

The complexity of infrastructure projects is one of the main reasons why governments in developing countries invest less in infrastructure than necessary to maintain the current growth momentum.

Basic infrastructure services – like roads, water and sewage lines, and electrical power – are scarce in many developing countries.  Over one billion people live without electricity, more than 660 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water, and one in three people lack access to flushing toilets and sewerage infrastructure. In addition, countries face the urgent need to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and renewable, efficient energy sources.

In order to fulfill commitments that countries throughout the world made to meet the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, the main stakeholders pledged not only to leverage their resources by joining forces to co-finance projects, but also to help generate interest among private sector investors in Public-Private Partnerships and the development of infrastructure as an asset class for institutional investors.