The MDBs have responded to new needs for technical assistance that have become evident only following the financial crisis. This includes:
∙ providing rapid-response assessments of contingent liabilities.
∙ maintaining existing assets pursuant to a greater focus on operation and maintenance (O&M) projects because these projects are relatively easy to structure at a time of constrained liquidity.
∙ assisting projects in distress or putting into place measures for dealing with contractual issues that may arise. Governments need technical assistance in making decisions on whether to slow or stop investments; how to respond to the potential entry of new investors into distressed projects; and whether to contribute their own debt or equity to projects, allow asset sales, and permit mothballing of projects or termination of contracts.
∙ maintaining a project pipeline in the face of changing market realities. Once these pipelines shut down, fully restarting them typically takes years. To keep the momentum going, governments will need to evaluate innovative approaches to structuring PPP projects.