Public Private Partnership (“PPP”) legal and institutional frameworks are broadly in place across the Western Balkans and it is, therefore, possible to implement PPPs in all beneficiaries. However, the region is characterised by a high PPP mortality rate during preparation and tender phases (around 50% on average). This arises (at least in part) from the limited experience and expertise in preparing PPP projects for most of the region’s beneficiaries.
This intervention dealt with strengthening the capacities of key Public Private Partnership (“PPP”) public sector bodies in the Western Balkans to identify, prepare and procure sound PPP projects. It encompassed an expert review of past PPP projects, the preparation of guidance documents and standard PPP tender documents, and the development and implementation of a programme of national capacity-building workshops.
In the scope of technical assistance, experts have analysed a sample of ten PPP projects to identify and discuss recurring challenges with PPP officials of the beneficiary countries. They have also prepared written guidance on matters relevant to testing and assessing suitability/Value for Money of PPPs, activities that should be conducted when preparing a PPP project and/or procuring a PPP contract (including guidance on template tender invitation documents), and essential components of an availability-based PPP contract.
As part of a programme of national capacity building workshops, 96 national PPP officials representing 50 PPP units, government departments, agencies and local authorities within the region attended five workshops, presenting a one-day module (‘A Road Map to Project Preparation’) aimed at training PPP officials in the use of the PPST. The training sessions were held in Tirana (Albania), Belgrade (Serbia), Pristina (Kosovo*), Sarajevo and Banja Luka (Bosnia Herzegovina). Some of the workshops also included the presentation and discussion of interactive case studies.
Individual post-workshop meetings were also held with 17 procuring authorities, during which 24 projects were discussed to a varying degree of depth (depending on the maturity of the project development and PPP preparation process); an assessment of the level of development (‘readiness’) of individual PPP projects was also conducted.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence
