Sierra Leone has a history of very high mortality rates for mothers and under-fives. In 2010, its president launched the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) to target this desperate problem. The involvement of other governments, the UN, and financial NGOs in… Read more
Archives: Public Impact Fundamentals
Integrated solid waste management in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s third largest city, recognised in the 1990s that it had a problem with managing increasing levels of waste, especially given its rapid population growth. It addressed the issue by improving recycling, creating sustainable landfill, and partnering with… Read more
Renewable energy in Germany: Energiewende
During the 1970s, it became clear to many people that climate change was a reality and that its effects could be disastrous. The West German government of the time wanted to move to greener forms of energy, such as wind… Read more
The French water management agencies
In 1964, the French defined a water management framework which resulted in the creation of six water agencies. They have been charged with improving water quality so that it meets the requirements of the EU water directive of 2000. They… Read more
TransMilenio: renewing Bogotá’s transport system
In the 1990s, Bogotá’s population was increasing rapidly but its public transport was in decline. With the new millennium came a new system, TransMilenio, which sought to improve services, extend its reach, and give the city’s residents greater well being… Read more
Seizing the moment: rebuilding Georgia’s police
Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Georgia had been known for its levels of corruption, especially in its police force. As a result of the ‘Rose Revolution’ of 2003, the government began a process of reform by sacking all… Read more
The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU) in the UK
The Labour government was re-elected for a second term in 2001. The prime minister, Tony Blair, emphasised the importance of reforming public services, such as education, health and transport. In order to help improve these services, he asked Michael Barber… Read more
J-Alert: disaster warning technology in Japan
Japan is at high risk from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as from nuclear accidents and missile-based military offensives. In 2007, the government’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency launched J-Alert, a satellite-based system that enables local… Read more
Building trust in government: Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Programme (NSP)
After the fall of the Taliban, the NSP was created in 2002 to give Afghan villages a democratic local administration with strong female participation, together with access to basic services. The NSP supports the participating villages with up to US$60,000… Read more
South Africa’s Gautrain: rail travel from Pretoria to Johannesburg
As one of the solutions to South Africa’s infrastructure problems, Gautrain – the rapid rail link between the nation’s capital, commercial centre, and main airport – was central to the national transport strategy. From the 1998 pre-feasibility study to the… Read more