Singapore’s government had long been involved in providing digital services to its citizens but it was generally a one-way process. In its e-Government Masterplan 2011–2015 (eGov2015), the government sought to involve both citizens and public sector organisations in a collaborative… Read more
Archives: Public Impact Fundamentals
Infrastructure financing in India
India’s infrastructure at the beginning of the century was in need of a total overhaul. It was a drag on the rapid growth of the country’s economy and adversely affected the lives of Indian citizens. The government looked to public-private… Read more
Replacing the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River
The six-lane drawbridge across the Potomac was built in 1961 to carry 75,000 vehicles a day. A quarter of a century later, the load was 200,000 and the bridge was raised five times a week for ships to pass through. Read more
Privatising the UK’s nationalised industries in the1980s
The Thatcher government that came to power in 1979 with privatisation as a minor part of its manifesto, but it became a central part of its ideology as the 1980s progressed. Many industries and utilities that had been nationalised in… Read more
India’s midday meals in schools
India has long suffered from widespread child malnutrition, and from the lack of opportunities for many of its young people. The government’s midday meals in schools (MDMS) scheme, which began in a few states in the 1980s, now provides hot… Read more
South Africa’s Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME)
In response to citizens’ dissatisfaction with public services, expressed through demonstrations in 2009, the incoming president, Jacob Zuma, created the DPME within the office of the Presidency. Its aim was to make government ministries more accountable and more collaborative, and… Read more
The rise of electric vehicles in Norway
The Norwegian government is intent on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic. In its quest for cleaner air, especially in urban areas, it has turned its attention to electric vehicles (EVs). Through a combination of advanced research, financial incentives… Read more
Green Waves for bicycles in Copenhagen
In the early 2000s, the city of Copenhagen was looking to make improvements for its many cyclists. Cycle lanes were taken for granted, but more was needed to improve cycle flow, especially during the rush hour. So the Green Wave… Read more
Social impact bonds for early childhood education in Utah
The concept of the social impact bond was developed by the UK’s Young Foundation. It aims to combine philanthropic giving with a financial return in order to meet a social need. It was applied in the state of Utah to… Read more
Light Rail Transit in Addis Ababa
The Ethiopian government decided to address the congested roads of the capital, Addis Ababa, by commissioning a new urban metro, largely funded, constructed and run by Chinese institutions. It is the first light railway to be built in sub-Saharan Africa… Read more