- Carolin Seeger, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
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A 2006 World Bank report noted that infrastructure performance in Pacific countries is worse than in other small islands. A lack of long term planning (in both governments and aid donors), budget provision for maintenance, institutional capacity and co-ordination has led to diminished social, environmental and economic benefits to stakeholders after major assistance from donors has been completed.
Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has developed a process to help address the issue, piloted on an infrastructure programme in the Solomon Islands (funded by the Australian Government and managed by SKM) in December 2008. The process involved a series of meetings and a full day workshop with SKM, government and AusAID representatives and led to the definition of specific issues and objectives for the programme and the development of an action plan, based on a guidance framework of economic, environmental and social sustainability issues.
The process translated the abstract concept of sustainability into the specific project context (provision of sustainable infrastructure in the Solomon Islands). It allowed project stakeholders to collaboratively determine the most important project objectives at the outset, and define the actions necessary to achieve the objectives. Integrating these actions into existing project management processes will lead to better economic, social and environmental outcomes throughout the life of the project and infrastructure.
The identified objectives of good budget planning, stakeholder co-ordination, capacity-building and community ownership address the key issues highlighted in the World Bank report. By making the infrastructure programme more efficient and sustainable, the process will enhance outcomes and free up resources for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The programme also contributes directly to achieving the poverty- and health-related MDGs through building capacity and health infrastructure.
The process can be adapted to other infrastructure and capital projects, to help achieve more sustainable outcomes.
BIO:
Carolin Seeger is a senior consultant in SKM’s sustainability and climate change team and an advisor to SKM’s internal sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives. Carolin joined SKM in August 2008 from UK corporate sustainability consultancy Maplecroft, where she designed and implemented sustainability strategies and management systems for a number of global blue chip clients.
She has specific expertise in the mining and metals, financial services and international development sectors, having implemented and managed projects across the entire spectrum of corporate sustainability including: sustainability assessment and gap analysis, benchmarking against best practice standards, stakeholder engagement exercises, sustainable supply chain management systems, sustainability reporting and reporting assurance. In addition, Carolin has conducted extensive research on issues of extra-financial risk and corporate reputation, focusing particularly on human rights, labour practices and international development.
Carolin holds BA and MSc degrees in European Business and an MSc Development Management from the London School of Economics. She has lived and worked in Germany, the USA, Ireland, India and the UK.