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What transforms a desirable project on a government wish list to an attractive investment opportunity in the eyes of a potential private sector partner? This guide seeks to enhance the chances of developing effective partnerships between the public and the private sectors by addressing one of the main obstacles to the effective delivery of public-private partnership (PPP) projects: having the right information on the right project for the right partners at the right time. Data from the World Bank and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) private participation in infrastructure (PPI) project database indicate that private sector investment in infrastructure in developing economies grew steadily over the past decade. By 2007 the levels had finally surpassed the peak levels seen in 1997, the end of the previous growth spurt. This guide focuses specifically on what should be done, and when, in order to prepare projects to attract the right long-term private partners, procure their involvement, and manage the partnership. This guide is not a detailed project preparation manual; rather, it seeks to provide an overview of the process and what is involved so that greater realism can be applied to this challenging task and adequate resource plans can be developed.

This report evaluates the outcomes of World Bank Group support to Afghanistan from 2002-11. Despite extremely difficult security conditions, which deteriorated markedly after 2006, the World Bank Group has commendably established and sustained a large program of support to the country. The key messages of the evaluation are:•While World Bank Group strategy has been highly relevant to Afghanistan’s situation,beginning in 2006 the strategies could have gone further in adapting ongoingprograms to evolving opportunities and needs, and in programming activities sufficientto achieve the objectives of the pillars in those strategies.•Overall, Bank Group assistance has achieved substantial progress toward most ofits major objectives, although risks to development outcomes remain high. Impressive results have been achieved in public financial management, public health,telecommunications, and community development; substantial outputs have alsobeen achieved in primary education, rural roads, irrigation, and microfinance—allstarted during the initial phase. Bank assistance has been critical in developingthe mining sector as a potential engine of growth. However, progress has beenlimited in civil service reform, agriculture, urban development, and private sectordevelopment.•The Bank Group’s direct financial assistance has been augmented effectively byanalytic and advisory activities and donor coordination through the AfghanistanReconstruction Trust Fund. Knowledge services have been an important part ofBank Group support and have demonstrated the value of strategic analytical work,even in areas where the Bank Group may opt out of direct project financing.•With the expected reduction of the international presence in 2014, sustainabilityof development gains remains a major risk because of capacity constraints andinadequate human resources planning on the civilian side.To enhance program effectiveness, the evaluation recommends that the Bank Group help the government develop a comprehensive, long-term human resources strategy for the civilian sectors; focus on strategic analytical work in sectors that are high priorities for the government; assist in the development of local government institutions and, in the interim, support the development of a viable system for servicedelivery at subnational levels; assist in transforming the National Solidarity Program into a more sustainable financial and institutional model to consolidate its gains; help strengthen the regulatory environment for private sector investment; and scale up IFC and MIGA support to the private sector.Chapter AbstractsChapter 1This chapter examines the country context, including continuing conflict and insecurity, poverty, and the role of development partners and non-state actors (civil society and humanitarian organizations) in Afghanistan. It examines coming transitions in security arrangements, including political and economic transitions. It outlines the evaluation methods used, as well as limitations. Chapter 2This chapter deals with the World Bank Group strategy and program, the Bank Group’s operational program, portfolio performance, analytic and advisory activities review, the Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund, and the new Interim Strategy Note, as well as previous Transitional Support Strategies and ISNs.Chapter 3This chapter examines the building of state capacity and state accountability to its citizens, specifically issues such as results and shortcomings in public financial management, public sector governance, and health and education. The World Bank Group contribution is highlighted. Risks to development outcomes are discussed. Chapter 4This chapter examines the issue of promoting growth in the rural economy and improving rural livelihoods, including sectors such as rural roads, agriculture and water. The National Solidarity Program and the Bank Group’s contribution to it are discussed. Risks to development outcomes arenoted.Chapter 5This chapter concerns support for the formal private sector, examining the overall investment climate and financial sector. It looks at possibilities for growth in the mining and hydrocarbons sector, information and communications technology, and power sectors. Urban development is also examined. The World Bank Group contribution is highlighted.Chapter 6This chapter provides an overall assessment (relevance, efficacy) of the Bank Group’s program in Afghanistan, outlining the internal and external drivers of success (knowledge services, staff capacity, customization of program design to country context, alignment of donor objectives, etc) and weakness. Chapter 7This chapter outlines the lessons for fragile and conflict-affected situations drawing on the specifics of the Afghanistan evaluation case. Recommendations are offered in areas such as labor markets, human resources, strategic-level analytical work vis-a-vis long-term development strategies, and strengthening of the regulatory environment for private sector investment.

Private sector investment, the mainstream financing method for procuring public road transport development projects, has encountered several profound difficulties and risks during execution, particularly in developing countries. However, there needs to be more extensive investigations on the major barriers facing road transport infrastructure projects in these countries. In this vein, the present study aims to identify and assess the perceived barriers inhibiting private sector investment in delivering public road transport infrastructure projects in the developing country of Iran. The research method adopted is based on a descriptive survey with a three-round Delphi technique with 35 experts from both the private and public sector in Iran. According to the research study results, four main groups of legal and organizational, political, economic, and operational barriers have been found to significantly impact the attraction of private sector investment in such projects. The three most significant obstacles for public road transport infrastructure projects in developing countries include: (i) a lack of financial and investment safety; (ii) a lack of proficient managers and policies of public organizations in order to facilitate the process of privatization; and (iii) corruption in the privatization process. The survey findings can help the government and policymakers to eliminate or alleviate the potential barriers towards private sector participation in future public road infrastructure projects, particularly in those developing countries such as Iran.

Recent evidence suggests that increasing overall service coverage and promoting access to telecommunications services have a high economic benefit. Overall, it is estimated that a ten percent increase in mobile telephony penetration could increase economic growth by 0.81 percent in developing countries, whereas a ten percent increase in broadband penetration could increase economic growth by 1.4 percent. In rural and low-income areas in particular, not only do basic telephony services and broadband access allow population to connect with relatives and friends, but they have also introduced a dramatic increase in productivity and in many cases have become the only way for small and medium enterprises in rural areas to access national and, in some cases, global markets. Moreover, the impact of access to telecommunications in rural areas on health, education, disaster management, and local governments has allowed better and more rapid responses, improved coordination, and more effective public management. It is therefore worthwhile to take a second look at all possible policy options, both conventional mechanisms (some of which underutilized) as well as new approaches, to determine whether some of them may be relevant for the emerging agenda of universal broadband access. This paper will first address the necessary conditions required to adopt a more ambitious universal access policy in developing countries. After that, a brief account of the main relevant trends in the industry will be made, followed by a description of twelve different mechanisms for project implementation and six different mechanisms for funding of universal access strategies. Then, an evaluation of the mechanisms will be carried out to identify the most suitable ones. Finally, some recommendations to policy makers on implementation of the preferred mechanisms are also drawn from the analysis.

This paper examines the relationship between financial development and private sector investment in the post-financial sector liberalization episode in Tanzania. The proxies for financial development were the financial market depth index and financial institutions depth index. Applying Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, the results show the nexus between financial development and private sector investment in Tanzania. We find that the financial market depth index has a positive and significant impact on private sector investment in the long run but not in the short run. This is linked to the underdevelopment of capital markets in Tanzania at present. Similarly, we find that the financial institution depth index positively and significantly impacts private sector investment in both the long and short run. The degree of openness of the economy recorded a positive and significant impact on private investment in both periods suggesting that it has played a critical role in the financial development and growth of the private sector in Tanzania. In contrast, we observe that the real exchange rate has recorded a negative and significant impact on private investment in the long and short run. This suggests that appreciation of the real exchange rate had a negative impact on private investment. We recommend increasing financial openness and reinforcing the financial regulatory reforms to widen and deepen the financial system that can effectively support the mobilization of short, medium, and long-term finance for private sector investment.

Background Despite the significant gains made globally in reducing the burden of malaria, the disease remains a major public health challenge, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Ghana. There is a significant gap in financing malaria control globally. The private sector could become a significant source of financing malaria control. To get the private sector to appreciate the need to invest in malaria control, it is important to provide evidence of the economic burden of malaria on businesses. The objective of this study, therefore, was to estimate the economic burden on malaria on businesses in Ghana, so as to stimulate the sector’s investment in malaria control. Methods Data covering 2012–2014 were collected from 62 businesses sampled from Greater Accra, Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana, which have the highest concentration of businesses in the country. Data on the cost of businesses’ spending on treatment and prevention of malaria in staff and their dependants as well as staff absenteeism due to malaria and expenditure on other health-related activities were collected. Views of business leaders on the effect of malaria on their businesses were also compiled. The analysis was extrapolated to cover 5828 businesses across the country. Results The results show that businesses in Ghana lost about US$6.58 million to malaria in 2014, 90 % of which were direct costs. A total of 3913 workdays were lost due to malaria in firms in the study sample during the period 2012–2014. Businesses in the study sample spent an average of 0.5 % of the annual corporate returns on treatment of malaria in employees and their dependants, 0.3 % on malaria prevention, and 0.5 % on other health-related corporate social responsibilities. Again business leaders affirmed that malaria affects their businesses’ efficiency, employee attendance and productivity and expenses. Finally, about 93 % of business leaders expressed the need private sector investment in malaria control. Conclusions The economic burden of malaria on businesses in Ghana cannot be underestimated. This, together with business leaders’ acknowledgement that it is important for private sector investment in malaria control, provides motivation for engagement of the private sector in financing malaria control activities.

Understanding challenges for future Results-Based Payment (RBP) of the REDD+ are crucial to the REDD+ policymakers. So, there was a question of what will be the challenges and measures of going ahead to the RBP of REDD+. The primary objective of this study is to consider the REDD+ finances emphasizing private investment and finding the challenges and measures of future financing to the REDD+ program in developing countries. As a specific instance, it outlines and makes arguments on how developing countries, using Bangladesh as a case, can go ahead of REDD+ implementation with finances from private investors from developed countries. The study finds that most forest carbon investment has been taken place in the voluntary carbon market as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as well as philanthropic contribution. It also finds the demands of REDD+ credits uncertain in the market due to the lack of security of the funding. Japanese companies and researchers suggested a fair democratic system, stable and improving legal system, low corruption, improved national forest governance in the developing countries for their possible private investment for REDD+. The study will be useful for REDD+ practitioners and policymakers in developing countries and Bangladesh, in particular.

The paper analyses the causes of low private sector investment (PSI) in power generation (PG) infrastructure in Ghana. Series of interviews and stakeholders’ workshops were employed for data collection and validation of findings. The Two Strands Model of the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was adopted to define and resolve the problem situation. However, the SSM approach manifested some inherent weaknesses in the areas of the listing and selecting the relevant sector concerns and designing the human activity systems. Consequently, Systems Thinking tool, Causal Loop Diagram was introduced to scientifically identify the fundamental causes of the limited PSI in PG. The paper, therefore, proposes some methodological improvements in the SSM in this regard. Human activity models as well as guidelines were developed to address the fundamental causes of the sparse private investment in PG in Ghana.

As growth and development in Africa increase rapidly, investment in infrastructure projects will often be best accomplished through public-private partnership. This Project Preparation Guide offers the foundation blocks for public sector engagement with the private sector. This book assesses the relevant issues for selecting a project for public-private partnership, the actions for preparing projects for market, and the management process The guide addresses hiring and managing expert advisers, explains how the public sector should interact with the private sector during the project selection and preparation phases to ensure that decisions during these phases are realistic, and analyzes the issues of engagement with the private sector during the tender and after a contract has been signed. 'Attracting Investor to African Public-Private Partnerships' will help the public sector in Africa to attract private sector investment through effective project advertising, management, and implementation. This book will enhance the chances of developing effective public-private partnerships by overcoming major obstacles to project delivery by having the right information, on the right projects, for the right partners, at the right time. This guide is aimed at African public sector officials who are concerned about the delivery of infrastructure projects and services through partnership with the private sector, as well as staff in donor institutions who are looking to support PPP programs at the country-level.

Biological capacity of earth is limited. While it is obvious at first glance, it has been ignored for decades. Policy makers attempt to overcome the persistent depletion of the human livelihood base through the establishment of protected areas. However, the financial means to sustainably manage a representative network of protected areas on a global scale do not yet exist, and particularly, private sector investment is extremely modest. One option for increasing private investment flows is the development of a market place for protected area certificates (PACs) issued for geographical areas managed according to social and environmental best practices. This paper utilizes semi-structured expert interviews with 39 German companies to analyze major product and market requirements for the sound implementation of an international certification scheme for PACs. Based on a triangulation approach that combines quantitative and qualitative evaluations with the two-step clustering procedure for strategic investor groups, seven design principles are determined that might encourage voluntary investment funds from the private sector, and thus support the sustainable management of protected areas. Having a look at existing markets for protected areas, one scheme provides a good foundation for the defined design principles: the LifeWeb initiative—an online clearing house for protected area developers and potential investors.