Establishing the PPP Framework
PPPs can be implemented on a one-off basis without any specific supporting legal and institutional framework. However, most countries with successful PPP programs rely on a sound PPP framework. Countries pioneering PPPs have built their PPP programs and frameworks together, learning by doing, and adjusting their frameworks to their needs. Governments now beginning or expanding their PPP programs can benefit from this global experience. By addressing efficiency and good-governance requirements, they can design and implement PPP frameworks that promote sound project selection, fair and competitive procurement, effective delivery of public services, and the ultimate success and sustainability of PPP programs.
The "PPP framework" consists of the policies, procedures, institutions, and rules that together define how PPPs will be identified, assessed, selected, prioritized, budgeted for, procured, monitored, and accounted for; and who will be responsible for these tasks. Establishing a PPP framework communicates government's commitment to PPPs and it fosters efficiency in the governance of the PPP program—that is, it promotes accountability, transparency, and integrity. It ensures that selected projects are aligned with the government’s development strategy, generate the greatest economic returns for society as a whole, and do not expose the government to excessive fiscal risks. It also guarantees that consultation with stakeholders will be systematically undertaken and fair compensation awarded to those that are entitled to receive it. This generates greater private sector interest and public acceptance of PPP programs. These core principles are described in Good Governance for PPPs.
Defining the PPP framework
There is no single, model PPP framework. A government's PPP framework typically evolves over time, often in response to specific challenges facing its PPP program. In the early stages of a program the emphasis may be on enabling PPPs, and creating and promoting PPP opportunities. Once several PPPs have been implemented on an ad hoc basis, concern about the level of fiscal risk in the PPP program may be the impetus for strengthening the PPP framework. In this case, the focus may be on strengthening control over how PPPs are developed, or improving public financial management for PPPs, as for example in South Africa (Burger 2006).
Often the initial phase of this iterative process involves introducing PPP-specific institutions, rules, and procedures to ensure PPP projects are subject to similar discipline as public investment projects. Gradually, as experience with PPP grows, these PPP frameworks may re-integrate with normal public investment and infrastructure planning, procurement, and fiscal management processes, with PPPs as one option facing the same standards as others for implementing public investment projects. Maintaining the same standards will prevent PPPs from being used to circumvent standard project checks and balances or fiscal constraints.
The best solutions to any given challenge will likely vary between countries—depending on the country's existing legal framework, investment environment, government institutions, and capacity. The PPP Framework of Chile and The PPP Framework of South Africa provide brief overviews of the PPP frameworks in South Africa and Chile—both countries recognized as having best-practice PPP frameworks.
The components of a comprehensive PPP framework typically include the following:
- Policy—articulation of the rationale behind the government's intent to use PPPs to deliver public services, and the objectives, scope, and implementing principles of the PPP program.
- Legal framework—the laws and regulations that underpin the PPP program—enabling the government to enter into PPPs, and setting the rules and boundaries for how PPPs are implemented. This can include PPP-specific legislation, other public financial management laws and regulations, or sector-specific laws and regulations.
- Processes and institutional responsibilities—the steps by which PPP projects are identified, developed, appraised, implemented, and managed, ideally within the Public Investment Management system; and the roles of different entities in that process. A sound PPP process is efficient, transparent, and is followed consistently to effectively control the quality of PPP projects.
- Public financial management approach—how fiscal commitments under PPPs are controlled, reported, and budgeted for, to ensure PPPs provide value for money, without placing undue burden on future generations, and to manage the associated fiscal risk.
- Other arrangements—how other entities such as auditing entities, the legislature, and the public participate in the PPP program, and hold those responsible for implementing PPPs accountable for their decisions and actions. The sections of this module describe each of these elements of a PPP framework, providing examples and guidance for practitioners.
In practice, these elements are closely interrelated. For example, a well-controlled process for developing PPPs requires assessing their fiscal consequences, which implies some Finance Ministry control at different stages of the project cycle. This is essential for sound public financial management of the PPP program. Comprehensive public reporting of fiscal commitments to PPPs in turn enables effective oversight of the PPP program. These linkages are highlighted throughout this module.
For more on the typical components of a PPP framework, see Farquharson et al (Farquharson et al. 2011, 15–16), and Yong (Yong 2010, 30), which both provide brief overviews. The OECD's recommendation on public governance of PPPs (OECD 2012) also sets out guiding principles for governments on managing PPPs. The recommendations cover three areas: (1) establishing a clear, predictable, and legitimate institutional framework supported by competent and well-resourced authorities; (2) grounding the selection of PPPs in value for money; and (3) using the budget process transparently to minimize fiscal risks and ensure the integrity of the procurement process. These built on earlier OECD principles for private sector participation in infrastructure (OECD 2007b).
Detailed assessments of PPP frameworks in a range of countries are available in the following:
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)'s Infrascope index publications assess the PPP environment in a set of countries to determine whether they are ready to undertake sustainable PPPs. The variables used to assess the countries include many of the PPP framework elements described above, as well as the country's operational experience with PPPs, the availability of finance and financing support mechanisms, and the overall investment climate. The series includes EIU Infrascope index for Latin America and the Caribbean (EIU 2014b), commissioned by Inter-American Development Bank's Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF); EIU Infrascope index for the Asia-Pacific region (EIU 2014a), commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB); EIU Infrascope index for Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (EIU 2012), commissioned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); and the EIU Infrascope report evaluating the environment for PPPs in Africa (EIU 2015), commissioned by the World Bank.
- Irwin and Mokdad's paper on managing contingent liabilities in PPPs (Irwin and Mokdad 2010) describes the PPP approval, analysis and management approach in Australia, Chile, and South Africa, with a focus on fiscal management.
- The PPP Knowledge Lab contains links to a set of tools designed by multilateral organizations to assess and improve PPP frameworks.
- The OECD Principles for Public Governance of Public-Private Partnerships (OECD 2012)—provides recommendations on how to ensure value for money through institutional design, regulation, competition, budgetary transparency, fiscal policy, and integrity at all levels of government.
- The Country Readiness Diagnostic for Public-Private Partnerships (WB 2016a)—is a World Bank tool that helps determine the status quo and compares it with best practices to determine gaps.
- The World Bank Benchmarking PPP Procurement 2017 (WB 2016b)—benchmarks the regulatory frameworks governing the PPP procurement processes in 82 economies, and evaluates these data against internationally recognized good practices.
- The Framework for Disclosure in PPP Projects (WB 2015a)—is a World Bank review of PPP disclosure frameworks and practices together with a set of recommendations for a systematic structure for proactively disclosing project information.
A PPP framework can be instituted in different ways. The options available typically depend on the legal system of the country, and on the norm for establishing government policies, procedures, institutions, and rules. They can include:
- Policy statement—in developed countries with a common-law tradition, PPP policy statements typically set out the rationale for, objectives, scope, and implementing principles of the PPP program, as described further in PPP Policy. Policy statements may also outline procedures, institutions, and rules by which the objectives and principles will be put into practice.
- Laws and regulations—as described further in PPP Legal Framework, civil law countries typically require legislation to enable PPPs to be pursued, and set out the rules for how PPPs will be implemented; many common law countries also introduce PPP legislation as a more binding form of commitment to a PPP framework. This can be a dedicated PPP law, a component of broader public financial management law, subordinate legislation such as executive orders, presidential decrees, regulations, or a combination.
- Guidance materials, such as manuals, handbooks, and other tools. These may be used to establish PPP procedures upfront, or developed over time to supplement policy statements or legislation, as a codification of good practice. PPP Cycle provides examples and draws from many examples of good quality guidance material from national PPP programs.
In addition to cross-sector PPP frameworks, policies or laws at the sector level can enable the use of PPPs and create a framework for PPPs within the sector. Many PPP programs use a combination of these approaches.
Sections
Boxes
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Good Governance for PPPs
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Guidebook on Promoting Good Governance in PPPs defines governance as the processes...
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The PPP Framework of Chile
Chile is a country with substantial PPP experience and a well-defined PPP framework. As of 2015, Chile had 59 active...
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The PPP Framework of South Africa
South Africa is another country with substantial PPP experience. From 2000 to April 2014, South Africa implemented 24 national and...
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PPP Implementing Principles in Peru
Peru’s PPP policy is set out in legislative Decree 1012. Article 5 defines the following guiding principles for PPP programs:
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PPP Legal Framework in Germany
The development and implementation of PPPs in Germany is regulated primarily by the Budget law, particularly sections 7 and 55...
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External advisors
Governments can use the advisory services provided by commercial firms or multilateral organizations. The IFC paper on independent advisors outlines...
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PPP Training
As part of their capacity-building functions, PPP Units in countries with significant PPP programs promoted the creation of PPP training...
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Types of Fiscal Commitments to PPPs
Fiscal commitments to PPPs can be regular payments constituting all or part of the remuneration of the private party, a...
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The Viability Gap Fund Program in India
In July 2005, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs established India's Viability Gap Fund (VGF) program through its approval of...
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Types of Government Financial Reporting
Most governments capture and report financial information in three related frameworks:
- Government finance statistics—these are summary statistics on the...
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The Delhi Water Project
In 2004, the government of Delhi decided to reform its water sector with support from the World Bank. Delhi had...
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Audit Entity Access to PPP Company Information
While the authority of supreme audit entities vary, it typically extends only to government agencies and entities wholly or majority-owned...
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Municipal Water PPPs in Benin
In 1999, Benin went through a reorganization of its public administration leading to the introduction of decentralized, financially autonomous municipalities...