An urgent need for Gorvenments around the world: Capacity-building to design, negotiate and implement Private-Public Partnerships

As the world is facing enormous financial challenges, it has become clear that most large projects can only be implemented through joint sector partnerships, commonly referred to as PPPs (Private-Public Partnerships); even when projects are not classified as PPPs, often they are joint sector initiatives. For example, exploration for natural resources and concessions in general are joint sector activities. However, there is a problem: in most cases, the public sector is not prepared to play the role of the equal partner. Lack of expertise or (even worse) lack of understanding and appreciation for the expertise needed puts the public sector at a serious disadvantage and results in a deal which favors (unfairly) the private partner. A similar result is reached when corruption is involved, which is common in many countries.


One-sided PPPs are not sustainable, as it is a matter of time for their biases to become known to the public, a public which becomes more an more active against incompetent governments and unfair situations. An effort is needed worldwide to strengthen the capacity of public organizations to design, negotiate and implement PPPs, which are fair for both sides and protect the interests of the public. Such capacity is essential in Governments of countries, as well as local governments. Similar expertise is needed in Topeka (Kansas, USA), Athens (Greece) and Rangoon (Myanmar).