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Africa’s financial and economic crisis, coupled with lack of funding for infrastructure and public services has ostensibly necessitated the growth in appetite for public private partnerships (PPPs). In recent years, the outsourcing of essential public services has been promoted as a catalyst for sustainable development. However, PPPs, which are contractual agreements between the government and the private sector, have been a cause for highly charged debates and discussions. At OSISA’s regional conference on debt, the panel discussion on PPPs lived up to this billing.
Caroline Eric from the World Bank explained that PPPs are an opportunity for blended financing, enabling governments to deliver services which would otherwise not be available. She further emphasised that public-private partnerships are key for improving the efficiency, robustness and quality of public services. Nevertheless, Eric was quick to caution that “PPPs have their own financial costs” and risks hence th