Title: Public–private partnerships in basic service delivery: impact on the poor, examples from the water sector in India

Authors: Meine Pieter Van Dijk

Addresses: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: What is the theory behind Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs)? In this contribution PPPs are defined as private sector involvement, where a public and a private partner share the risks related to the necessary investments. Besides complementarity, the other factors contributing to the success of PPPs will be analysed. Evidence concerning India will be used to assess which factors played a role and to suggest a PPP dialogue in India, which would involve all stakeholders before actually embarking on PPPs for urban infrastructure projects such as drinking water and sanitation. It would help to do projects in such a way that they would also benefit the urban poor.

Keywords: public–private partnerships; PPP; basic service delivery; urban poor; water sector; India; poverty; private sector involvement; PSI; drinking water; sanitation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2008.019495

International Journal of Water, 2008 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.216 - 234

Published online: 14 Jul 2008 *

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