While the attractiveness and interest in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
for infrastructure development continues to grow, the number of actual concrete
projects particularly in the transition countries of Central and Eastern Europe
and the CIS continues to disappoint. In addressing this challenge many delegates
at a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) high-level conference
recommended that governments should use the experience of several countries
in Europe and consider establishing central PPP Units within their public
administrations. These Public-Private Partnership Units or Task Forces would
lead, drive and coordinate the overall PPP process. Its functions would include:
mobilising high-level political support; informing the rest of the public
administration on the concept of PPP; integrating government departments;
consulting with key stakeholders; and removing the barriers to PPPs.
This debate took place at the first meeting of the UNECE Public-Private Partnership
Alliance Programme on the subject of 'How to create successful and dynamic
PPP Units' at the Palais des Nations Geneva, on 12 March 2002. Representatives
of Europe's leading PPP Units and Task Forces from the Czech Republic, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated.
Other countries, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland,
France, Russian Federation, Slovenia, and Switzerland also attended.
Mr. Eamonnn Kearns, head of the Irish PPP unit, who was elected as co-chair
of the Alliance Programme, argued that the Irish experience demonstrated that
with a dedicated central unit of excellent professionals working within the
public administration, projects could be developed successfully and quickly.
Mrs. Corinne Namblard, chairwoman of the UNECE BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer)
Group and elected co-chair of the UNECE PPP Alliance Programme, argued that
the creation of a centre of excellence on PPPs could help to remove some of
the bottlenecks. She declared that the Alliance Programme could also help
to develop awareness of PPP techniques amongst representatives of the local
private sector and the domestic banks.
Other key players in Europe confirmed that support from the governments was
necessary to develop more successful PPPs. Mr. Chris Shugart, Senior Banker
with the EBRD, argued that EBRD is committed to support capacity building
in order to increase the number of successful PPP projects. For his part Mr.
Tom Barrett, Director of the EIB, emphasised that experience in Europe showed
that dedicated PPP Units were having a positive impact on the flow of PPP
projects and much could be learned from the creation of such a network of
PPP units across Europe.
Looking forward to the future, the meeting agreed that there is a need to
develop a network of PPP Units and private sector to support the PPP process
in Europe. It was agreed that the Alliance Programme will be a platform for
capacity and institutional building, awareness raising, communication, and
experience-sharing to identify, develop and monitor PPPs. Governments will
benefit from the Alliance in terms of its high-level expertise, its membership
by professionals with practical knowledge and experience of project development,
its advice on legal and regulatory issues, training and consultative meetings
and annual forums. It will also provide opportunities to attract private investment
into infrastructure sectors that badly need new capital injection.
Further information on the above-mentioned Conference and on the PPP Alliance
Programme can be obtained from:
Geoffrey Hamilton
Regional Adviser
UNECE Coordinating Unit for Operational Activities
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41(0)22 917 28 38
Telefax: +41(0)22 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]
Francesca Marchetto
Special Assistant
UNECE Coordinating Unit for Operational Activities
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41(0)22 917 39 71
Telefax: +41(0)22 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]