Resilient infrastructure plays a critical role in reducing the risks and impacts of natural disasters and other major disruptions, including pandemics, technological failures, and socio-political instability. Insufficient design of infrastructure systems may significantly increase the economic, social, and environmental costs of disasters. Conversely, resilient infrastructure helps protecting lives, supports sustainable development, and strengthens investor confidence by maintaining reliable service under stress. Despite these advantages, resilience is often undervalued in project planning and investment decisions. This is largely due to misconceptions about high upfront costs, limited awareness of long-term benefits, and the absence of incentives that encourage resilience-focused investments. In many cases, private sector participation in infrastructure projects remains low because of unclear responsibilities across public agencies, poor coordination, and weak risk-sharing mechanisms. This article recommends a set of strategies to address these challenges, such as building the capacity of public institutions, improving coordination across government agencies, and designing incentives that reward resilience outcomes. International collaboration—particularly through platforms like the G20—can further accelerate progress through common standards promotion, knowledge exchange, and innovative financing tools development. Investing in resilience is essential not only to safeguard infrastructure but also to ensure that it contributes to sustainable and disaster-ready development.
Ditulis oleh IIGF Institute, University Network for Indonesia Infrastructure Development (UNIID)