Colombia’s National Planning Department (DNP) developed in 2016 the guide for the structuring of infrastructure projects, which allows public entities to present, substantiate, and analyze projects under the Public-Private Partnership scheme. Subsequently, in 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the British Government and entities of the National Government for the standardization of good practices in the formulation and structuring of infrastructure projects. These good practices are part of the UK's Global Infrastructure Program (GIP) and include the methodologies: 5 Case Model (M5C), Project Initiation/Development Routemap (PDR), and Building Information Modeling (BIM).

From 2019 to 2021, Steer supported the adaptation process of the M5C and PDR methodologies to the Colombian context, considering the processes, practices, and regulations that currently exist in the country in this area. Therefore, considering the need to update the guide for the structuring of APP infrastructure projects, the National Planning Department contracted UT KPMG ADVISORY, TAX & LEGAL S.A.S, KPMG CONSULTORÍA LTDA, and STEER DAVIES & GLEAVE LIMITED to develop the methodological proposal for the structuring of public infrastructure projects with private investment, considering the studies defined in the current regulations and the application of the best international practices.

As a result of this consultancy, the guide with guidelines for Public Entities in the realization/evaluation of private participation projects was developed. The guide recommends using the Five Case Methodology (M5C) as a logical framework for structuring projects. The specific activities of this logical framework are complemented by the tools of the Project Development Guide (PDR). Additionally, the guide describes the minimum actions and guidelines for implementing the BIM methodology in the pre-feasibility and feasibility phases for public infrastructure projects in their different sectors.

An added value of this guide is that it includes technical notes that define the scopes and studies for the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages for the Education, Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation, Health, Public Buildings, Recreation and Sports, Justice, Urban Renewal, and Urban Transport sectors.

Thanks to this guide, it will be easier to present in an orderly manner all the studies carried out in the Eligibility and Structuring stages (pre-feasibility and feasibility) through a clear argumentative process to regulatory entities, agents involved in the process, and the general public.

Steer, through Skill Share COL-006a-R  provided support and knowledge transfer to the National Planning Department of Colombia (DNP) professionals to strengthen their technical capacity to advance in a railway framework that considers gender equity and inclusion and encourages the energy transition to low-emission technologies.

Steer and Fedesarrollo led the update of the Intermodal Transportation Master Plan (PMTI) 2022-2035 for the National Government, through the National Development Finance, the National Planning Department, the Transportation Infrastructure Planning Unit and the Ministry of Transportation. This planning instrument becomes the Colombian State's commitment to organize the country’s growth efficiently and strategically through an infrastructure network that connects cities, regions, borders, and ports, prioritizing the projects that will have the greatest impact on the economy and national welfare. This update deepens the prioritization of projects that improve the connectivity and accessibility of the territories and populations less served by the transportation system, includes actions that increase the resilience of the transportation system and finally is inserted in the convergence between intermodal networks, information and communications technologies and the energy revolution seeking to accelerate the adoption of smarter ways to move, reducing the impact on the environment and promoting the use of less polluting fuels.

Approaching transportation planning from a gender perspective allows us to recognize the differences in travel patterns and needs among men and women.

In 2020, the Colombian Railway Master Plan was published as the strategy for the reactivation and consolidation of the railway operation in the country, and technical regulation was identified as one of the main elements that required actions to achieve this objective.

The Colombian waterway network has a length of 24,725 km, of which about 18,000 km are navigable and provide connectivity to different populations in the country. Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with the highest density of river network in relation to the extension of its territory, with an indicator of around 1.6 km per 100 km2 (Jaimurzinam Azhar, 2017).

In 2015, Colombia's River Master Plan was published, the main elements were: river infrastructure, institutional planning, operation, promotion, and financing of the mode.

However, many of the shortcomings still persist, few projects have been implemented, and it is necessary to have an updated public policy document that encourages the development of public and private projects and investments, and stimulates the sustainable development of the river mode given its relevance for the country's competitiveness, and for the connectivity and development of the most remote regions of the national territory.