Private participation in urban services

Project activities will include policy/regulatory reforms, TA to private enterprises, a training and communications program, and pilot/demonstration projects. The project will assign five expatriate and three local long- term advisors, along 365 person-months of short-term TA, to help government ministries (e.g., the Ministry of Home Affairs -- MOHA, and the Ministry of Public Works -- MOPW), local governments, and private firms. TA to public agencies will help them to: revise the policy and regulatory framework affecting private sector urban services; identify and solicit private investors; evaluate investment proposals; and strengthen contract management. In the private sector, advisors will help potential investors -- foreign and domestic, large and small -- to prepare feasibility studies and project proposals, negotiate contracts, implement projects, etc. Several training and communications activities will support private sector participation in urban services, including regular meetings between government officials and private entrepreneurs, and in-country workshops and short courses to address the more technical aspects of privatized urban service delivery. Overseas training will include short courses and policy seminars for about 84 persons, including GOI and private sector investors and managers; in addition, there will be 6 M.S."s in urban planning and/or business management. About 11 pilot projects will be undertaken to demonstrate the feasibility of public/private partnerships in urban service delivery, to test technologies and methodologies, examine legal, financial, and organizational issues, and measure comparative efficiencies. This will include at least 5 contracts to build, own, and operate (BOO) or build, own, and transfer (BOT) public works and at least 6 service/management contracts. The project will help the implementing ministries to identify suitable locations for new facilities and opportunities for contracting operation and maintenance services. Due to their important role in determining overall policy and institutional shortcomings as well as training and TA needs, demonstration projects will begin as early as possible.