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Introduction
PPPUE is a multi-partner, multi-donor facility within the United Nations Development Programme's Bureau of Development Policy. With a particular focus on assisting second tier cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. PPPUE promotes the improved access of urban poor to basic environmental services such as water and sanitation, solid waste management and energy services through collaboration between governments, private business and civil society.
The Internet Conference was an effort by the PPPUE to create a "Virtual Learning Network", by reaching out directly to people involved in public-private partnerships to capture what they considered to be "best practices". Over 250 individuals participated, from every continent and across the public and private sectors: municipal governments, industry representatives, academia, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and technical institutions. The conference started in the Autumn of 1997 and finished in the Summer of 1998.
Mission of Internet Conference
- To promote opportunities for business and government to work together in social and environmental problem solving, with a focus on water, waste management and energy problems in cities of the developing world
- To provide a forum for discussion about PPP, specifically on issues practitioners face when forming partnerships
- To build a network of potential partners who could serve as a resource for new programmes and projects and to create a database of information that includes the interests of the conference participants
- To collect data on PPP to be included in the PPP network and for others interested in seeking alternative and innovative solutions to urban environmental problems
- To generate interest in PPP among the various potential actors including municipalities, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, universities and corporations
- To demonstrate the effective use of this combination of technology and methodology for other UNDP agencies (providing an example of how a conclusive, long-term discussion can take place electronically, saving time and money).
This conference explored the interface of the public and private sectors in project planning and implementation, popularly known as public-private partnerships. These partnerships are a result of the joint efforts of the public sector and private industry as they combine forces and often capital in the development of new initiatives. In this case, the focus is on the delivery of urban infrastructure and city services for water, waste management and energy.
By requesting the contributions of firsthand knowledge of municipal governments, industry representatives, academia, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and technical institutions, the PPP is tapping into past successes and failures in the formation of public-private partnerships in many urban areas. PPP is collecting the valuable lessons learned from these experiences and is building a platform of implementation recommendations. While furthering the debate about partnerships as a viable modality for sustainable development, the conference promotes the many opportunities for involvement.
The Conference had three rounds, each of which is described below. During Rounds I and II, participants were asked to discuss their experience with identified topics. Those discussions occurred via email through a listserve over a one or two week period for each topic. The level of involvement varied according to an individual's familiarity with the topic, travel commitments and other factors. In addition to their experience, participants were asked to identify what they considered to be the leading cases, institutions, web sites, documents and other materials on each topic.
- Round I of the Internet Conference determined the key issues surrounding the opportunities, obstacles and structures for partnerships as well as Professional Development, participatory decision making, governance and policy, and technological availability.
- Round II took the general discussion down to the specifics in three sectors: water, waste, and energy. For each sector, separate discussions took place through separate listserves with different moderators. The discussions took place over three months during the Winter and Spring of 1998.
- Round III of the Internet Conference was a face-to- face workshop held at Yale in June 1998. The purpose was to distill cross-cutting themes from Round II and the 1998 Research Clinic, as well as to help refine plans for a "Global Best Practices Exchange" (now the Global Learning Network). A small, but select, group of people attended from Europe, Latin America, Asia and North America. All of the participants had been involved in either the Internet Conference or the 1998 Research Clinic.
The workshop was chaired by Marcello Palazzi of the Progressio Foundation, a European group noted for its work with the business community. The results of the Internet Conference and the Research Clinic were summarised and participants were then asked to help distill the following cross-cutting themes:
- Key Features of Successful Public-Private Collaborations
- Special Characteristics of Urban Environmental Services
- Cross-Cutting Problem Areas for Public-Private Collaborations
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