Best practices of public-private sector partnership for improving the enabling business environment and support services

Abstract

The trend towards market-oriented economic development gives an increasingly prominent recognition of the private sector as the engine for economic growth and development. The State on the other hand is more and more been relegated to regulatory role and towards creating an enabling environment for the participation of other development actors. including in particular. the private sector. The emphasis of this new development orientation is on improving the relevance of each development actor. increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the development process. To meet these formidable challenges. public-private partnership (PPP) is a promising innovative approach that can help the transformation process and achieve development goals. Public-private partnership (PPP) as defined in this report is a collaborative arrangement between the government/public and private sector actors. The study provides first and foremost a better appreciation of the constraints and opportunities facing this promising and innovative strategy to development. It also provides a true perspective on the issues as a way of providing further stimulus and for encouraging PPP as well as an understanding of the appropriate incentives and conditions for partnership to flourish on a large scale. The study shows that PPP is still largely untapped by many African countries and encourages African countries to exploit the range of opportunities PPP offers to help address the operational and competitive needs of their private sector. Finally, it highlights six major lessons that must underpin public/private partnerships. As the discussion on PPP expands. international development partners are being more open to look at their conditions and requirements to include public/private partnership.