Public-Private Partnerships in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Management Research

ABSTRACT

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are cooperative arrangements between governments and multinational corporations (MNCs) that are created to finance, construct and manage infrastructure projects. PPPs are a means for governments to gain much-needed private sector investment and expertise for economic development. Historically, Africa’s involvement in PPPs has been limited relative to other continents. However, African governments, which are strapped for resources like other public entities, now have a greater need for infrastructure development to support the continent’s population growth and demand for its commodities from emerging countries. Based on these conditions, PPPs will grow in importance in Africa. The purpose of this Insights Article is to discuss the past and current state of PPPs in Africa and the existing challenges of PPPs on the continent. We also discuss the opportunities that PPPs present to researchers who wish to contribute to the development of PPPs as an area of management inquiry.

Keywords:

• public-private partnerships
• infrastructure development
• Africa
• emerging economies