Africa: No Partnership Quick Fixes

Public-private partnerships have been hailed as a new way to conduct state business and harness the funding and expertise of the private sector. But a new study by the South African Institute of International Affairs shows they fail unless government plans well and fixes its chronic problems of non-transparent politically-manipulated procurement. African governments face a cash and capacity crunch. They need to dramatically improve public services but lack money and the technical and management capacity to deliver new roads, improved ports, efficient electricity plants, effective schools and desperately needed health services.