Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

Keywords:

Abstract:

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are used in meeting a wide variety of public needs, to the great satisfaction of the vast majority of the users of this approach. However, PPPs are often misunderstood. Issues such as the structure of partnerships, the origin of privatesector profits, the role of the public-sector in these agreements and the value (to both the general public and public agencies) are all complex aspects where limited knowledge can lead to misinformation and misperceptions. This paper provides a more complete picture of how and where public-private partnerships work. In the context of this paper, ?public-private partnerships? covers a full range of projects and services involving private-sector resources in the delivery of services or facilities for public use. This includes everything from outsourcing of services to full privatization of government activities, but the principle focus of this report is to review the blending of resources and assets from both sectors in a way that is advantageous to all parties. Advantages include cost-reducing solutions that maintain the same or better levels of quality, and successfully leveraging of the increasing limited resources of government agencies to complete high-cost, high need projects. In many cases, a partnership can save as much as 40% of the original cost of the program, while maintaining or even improving the quality when compared to pre-partnership performance benchmarks.

Notes:

http://www.ncppp.org/presskit/ncpppwhitepaper.pdf