Public-Private Partnerships and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Fit for purpose?

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) of the recently concluded Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa, 13-16 July 2015) recognizes that “both public and private investment have key roles to play in infrastructure financing, including through (…) public private partnerships” (paragraph 48, AAAA). However, the AAAA also highlights the need to “build capacity to enter into PPPs, including as regards planning, contract negotiation, management, accounting and budgeting for contingent liabilities”. It further stress-es the need to “share risks and reward fairly, include clear accountability mechanisms and meet social and environmental standards”.