The course has been designed to help students understand what public value can be created and what complex public policy problems can be addressed by employing the techniques and structures used in public-private partnerships (PPPs). Public-Private Partnerships are collaborative structures supported by public, private or even non-profit partners who agree to share risks, resources and decisions in building and implementing certain projects. PPPs address issues with financing, operational capacity, inadequate human capital. The parties to a solution may share powerful motivations to create public value by addressing a particular problem but may not agree on how it should be addressed, by whom, at what risk, and for what incentives. The course will discuss how the integration of economic and social PPPs can improve a country’s competitiveness. While economic PPPs are created to address strategic economic development goals, social PPPs focus more on assets that lack adequate revenue sources and require subsidies. An increasing number of countries are seeking a fusion of economic and social PPPs, especially with regard to water, education, and healthcare. The skills needed to effectively develop and integrate economic and social PPPs include negotiation, political management, innovation, and financial structuring. Case studies and readings will be used to illustrate the wide spectrum of situations and challenges associated with managing PPPs and the types of issues that will benefit from PPPs in international development.
