Creating physical infrastructure

Installing permanent facilities for basic services to a population (e.g. power plants, dams, roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, irrigation networks, etc.).

Basic physical infrastructure constitutes a bridge between basic needs deficiency and prosperity, providing an atmosphere in which innovative behaviour can be meaningful, and facilitating the attainment of necessary inputs and the marketing of products. Many of the methods for providing basic infrastructure are already on the "technology shelf"; it is mainly a question of giving infrastructure the priority and commitment that it deserves. Special attention should be directed to such considerations as ease of obtaining water and fuel. This for example can reduce or eliminate the burdens falling disproportionately on women. It is recommended that very high priority be accorded to the provision of basic infrastructure to poor populations. Clearly, in this area the responsibility often rests with the state, but donors, especially those supporting least developed countries, can be extremely helpful in influencing priorities. Since infrastructure is almost always construction-intensive, there may be scope for utilizing local resources including income-generating employment of unemployed or underemployed members of the local labour force. In this respect, local and regional agencies can serve a useful function. In addition, longer-term efforts might focus on feasibility studies investigating the viability of large-scale science-cum-engineering projects. More ambitious projects in this respect have included water diversion schemes.