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
Archives: Public Impact Fundamentals
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
French missions locales: integrating young people into society and the labour market
At the start of the recession of the early 1980s, youth unemployment was a significant problem in France. In 1982, the recently elected Socialist government passed Order No. 82-273, creating missions locales, places where young people between the ages of 16… Read more
Free antenatal and postnatal care: seventy years of the protection maternelle et infantile (PMI)
In 1945, the French government introduced the PMI to provide free, high-quality medical and social care to all mothers and their young children. Through over 5,000 PMI centres, it aims to be accessible to all French women, whatever their social… Read more
Combating electoral corruption and violence in the Philippines
The 2004 election campaign in the Philippines was one of extreme violence with nearly 300 deaths. At the same time, Philippines Commission on Elections (Comelec) was tarnished by corruption. In 2008 a new election commissioner took over with the brief… Read more
Rio de Janeiro’s centre of operations: COR
In 2010, the landslide in Rio was a major social and environmental disaster, and the city had to take action. Spurred on by the forthcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, they developed an ambitious operations centre. It’s a data… Read more