ASPIRE FAQs

ASPIRE

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FAQs

The following are common questions relating to ASPIRE. If you have any other questions, please send them to Oasys.

FAQ's

Q.	What is ASPIRE?
A.	ASPIRE is a software based tool for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure projects which recognises poverty reduction as an overarching objective. The ASPIRE framework examines the social, environmental, economic and institutional dimensions of sustainability. It was developed through a unique partnership between Arup International Development and Engineers Against Poverty (EAP).

Why use ASPIRE?

Infrastructure projects tend to be delivered with the emphasis on technical performance within the project boundary rather than recognising their long term contribution to the sustainable development of the communities they serve or are located in. The increasingly mandatory requirement to carry out environmental impact assessments (EIA) and social impact assessment (SIA) is predicated by the need to mitigate the potential negative impacts of infrastructure projects, as opposed to recognising the opportunity to enhance the environment, strengthen society, and act as a catalyst for economic growth. By comprehensively addressing the three 'pillars' of sustainability (environment, society, economics) and recognising institutions as a fourth critical dimension, ASPIRE provides a unique, holistic framework for assessing the impacts and inter-relationships of projects and programmes.

What do I need to know in order to conduct an ASPIRE assessment?

The ASPIRE software has been designed to be operated and understood by project managers, planners and engineers who may not have specialist knowledge of sustainability and poverty reduction issues. It leads the user through a series of questions which assist in allocating a non-weighted score to each of the sub-themes. If the user requires more information to help with decision-making, ASPIRE also provides ready access to background information for each sub-theme through the software.

When in the project cycle is it appropriate to use ASPIRE?

ASPIRE can be used at each phase of the project cycle. At project initiation, it is well suited to drive a pro-poor sustainability agenda in the project concept and specification. During the design process, ASPIRE can be used to identify gaps for further exploration, guide decision-making and stakeholder participation, and provide an initial project assessment against which to benchmark. It can also be used to support social and environmental risk identification and mitigation. Additionally, ASPIRE can serve as an ongoing monitoring and evaluation tool to assess project performance and to promote wider organisational learning.

How does ASPIRE compare to existing poverty and sustainability appraisal tools?

Through a two-year research program, EAP and Arup drew on leading thinking on poverty and sustainability assessment from frameworks and tools developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the World Commission on Dams. The research identified a 'gap' in tools that comprehensively combine poverty and sustainability appraisal in one tool, which ASPIRE addresses through including all four key dimensions of sustainability - environment, society, economics and institutions - in its unique appraisal framework.

How does ASPIRE work?

The ASPIRE software leads the user through a series of questions which assist in allocating a non-weighted score to each of the 96 indicators which are distributed across the sub-themes. The user enters a short justification for each score allocated. If the user requires more information to help with decision-making, ASPIRE also provides ready access to background information for each sub-theme through the software.

What do the ASPIRE outputs look like?

The scores provided by the user are aggregated for each theme to provide a high level, graphical output. The graphic gives a snapshot view of the overall sustainability and poverty reduction performance of a project. Assessment against up to 96 indicators is represented graphically categorised under 20 key themes with a 'traffic light' system used to indicate strengths (green) and weaknesses (red).

The software can also generate a more detailed report on specific sub-themes to further break down the analysis and identify the particular indicators which have led to a particularly high or low score for that sub-theme.

Q.	Has ASPIRE been used yet on live projects?
A.	A test version of ASPIRE was trialled on nine projects around the world working in partnership with organisations such as UNOPS, the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Red Cross and the University of Cape Town. In addition, a range of stakeholders were consulted from leading international organisations, academia and the private sector.

Q.	How do I get access to ASPIRE?
A.	ASPIRE is available for download on the ASPIRE homepage for a free 30 day trial period. A license for ASPIRE may be purchased on the same page.

I need some help getting started. Who should I contact?

A detailed user manual is available for download which should guide users through the initial setup and use. However, for any technical issues with downloading or using the software, please contact Oasys.

EAP and Arup International Development also offer a range of services to help users get the most out of ASPIRE. We provide a one day training programme that will enable participants to become proficient in its use. We are able to carry out independent assessments and/or work with organisations to review and certify assessments. We also can customise the functionality of ASPIRE to align with specific reporting requirements for various organisations.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of these offerings, please contact Priti Parikh at Arup (priti.parikh@arup.com) or Matthew Lynch at EAP (m.lynch@engineersagainstpoverty.org).

Q.	How does the ASPIRE scoring system work?
A.	The scores shown in the Excel sheet are out of 7 rather than out of 5 as in the ASPIRE input process. This is because there are seven colours in the keystone, so ASPIRE automatically converts a score out of 5 to a score out of 7.