60. Procuring by PPP as opposed to traditional procurement is fundamentally a political decision made at the highest levels of government. Procuring by PPP will often be entirely new to the officials implementing the decision, and the process will often be difficult. It is essential not only that those at the political level be committed to PPP procurement, but also that they are seen to be committed. Challenges will inevitably arise during the process that will require decisions and actions by government officials who should know that they are supported by their superiors. Only if the political level is aware of and accepts the costs and benefits of using PPPs can the issues around them be tackled and balanced appropriately with stability and predictability (OECD, 2012).
61. High level political commitment is also essential to mobilise the resources and capacities need for a successful PPP project. It is not enough to simply create PPP central units and satellite units or hire advisors, these efforts must be resourced adequately. This may be difficult to justify for one project but easier to rationalise where there is a high-level understanding and commitment to PPPs as a method of procurement.
62. In order for the political level to lend its full-fledged support to PPPs it must first understand the benefits and myths of PPP procurement. In other words, PPPs should be pursued for the right reason, to create value for money, and not as a second-best substitute for public procurement. The signals sent by high-level commitment or the lack of such a commitment are read by both government officials and the private sector. Government officials will react to such motivations by taking the project less seriously while private sector developers and investors will be less willing to participate in the project.
63. Political actors are sensitive to the views of their citizens to (varying degrees). It is therefore easier for politicians to be committed to projects that are perceived by the population as providing a tangible benefit to their lives. These projects will also be less vulnerable to political changes. This is an aspect of project selection that must be considered in addition to value for money and the business case. The project must plainly meet a social and economic need, and its delivery must be recognised as important by most shades of political opinions (United Nations, 2008).
64. An element of demonstrating that a project meets a social and economic need that is often overlooked is broad public consultation. Just as officials may have misunderstandings about private participation, the public may fear that services will become unobtainable or unaffordable. Such opposition can be very detrimental to a project especially if government actors change. Public consultations to create "buy-in" among those the project will serve are essential to create a supportive and resilient political landscape and to ensure that projects are in the best interests of citizens. Consultations should not be ad hoc, but rather a required element of the legal framework that take place on a structured and recurring basis. Failing to engage in broad public consultations is a risk that is often underestimated.