Engaging the Private Sector Through Public-Private Partnerships

This article focuses on case studies of public-private partnership projects. It outlines features of those projects, such as selection criteria for project sites, selection criteria for private sector partners, and larger networks of support, which seem to contribute to the success of such projects. Several specific sites are described in brief as are some auxiliary programs which serve to encourage and support these site-specific efforts. A list of some lessons learned from these seminal public-private partnership projects provides some guidance for the future. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 signaled the start of a new era. The conference adopted Agenda 21, a far-ranging program of reform, and 150 government leaders from around the world approved other important outcomes. The degree of change agreed to for the global economic, political, and social system was so fundamental that the process risked foundering in inertia. One clear message from Rio was that the task ahead was too much, and too important, for governments alone. New partnerships had to be forged—and the business community, among others, was enjoined to get involved. Conference participants were very clear that the private sector had to engage actively in implementing the sustainable development agenda. Agenda 21 talked boldly about new roles through new partnerships: business and industry “should be full participants” in the post-Rio process, the public and private sectors “should strengthen partnerships to implement the principles and criteria for sustainable development,” and the public sector “should establish procedures” to allow an “expanded role” for the private sector. In short, UNCED urged the public sector—governments, UN agencies, international financial institutions—to put aside its traditional suspicion, even distrust of business, and work with it as a full-fledged partner in implementing Agenda 21. This represented a sea change in attitude: recognition, at last, that the private sector has a powerful contribution to offer at three levels: • by improving corporate environmental performance throughout business and industry;