The host nations emphasized the importance of building and improving institutional capacity for PPP program effectiveness. From business case analysis through hand- back, PPPs present a variety of challenging tasks for public sector officials. As their PPP programs have matured and their staff capacity has increased, the host nations have relied less heavily on external consultants. This capacity has not been derived simply through experience. Rather, deliberate actions such as establishment of best practices groups, development of principles and guidelines, and creation of standard procedures have all contributed to this growth.13 Certainly, the need for complementary specialized expertise in areas such as legal and financial matters will not cease. However, the institutional infra- structure required to conceptualize, procure, deliver, and manage PPP arrangements as they themselves continue to evolve is significant. Failure to recognize this could leave a public agency overmatched by its private partner.
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13 Some of these resources are listed in Appendix E.