Title: Public private partnerships and continuity of government service delivery in the era of COVID-19 outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: Alex Nduhura; Lukamba M. Tshombe; Thekiso Molokwane; Ivan Kiiza Twinomuhwezi; Innocent Nuwagaba

Addresses: Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda ' North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa ' University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana ' Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda ' Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract: Public private partnerships (PPPs) remain a popular delivery mechanism by governments across the world. However, there is a dearth of literature on popularity and performance of PPPs in the COVID-19 era, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where PPP concessions in service delivery are new and increasing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on PPP concessions and identify appropriate strategies to keep them afloat during uncertain times. Based on systematic review of literature and documents, the study noted that while pandemics such as bubonic plague; Spanish flu; HIV/AIDS; SARS; the avian bird flu and Ebola existed before, they did not plunge the whole world into large-scale socio-economic disruption and lockdowns like COVID-19 pandemic. Continued delivery of public services through PPPs by governments may be frustrated by COVID-19 unless credit guarantee schemes; renegotiating concessions; finance for equity swaps and concession extensions are adopted as requisite strategies.

Keywords: COVID-19; public private partnerships; PPPs; service delivery; recessions; government; Sub-Saharan Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2021.116015

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2021 Vol.14 No.4, pp.505 - 530

Received: 04 May 2020
Accepted: 11 Jun 2020
Published online: 06 Jul 2021 *

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