The diagnostic assessment of the sector yields information to develop and inform targeted, specific, and realistic sector strategy and road map to achieve improvements, through PPPs and other interventions. The strategy and road map provide clarity and certainty about the operating environment to private sector operators-a prerequisite for sizable investments and long payback periods inherent in infrastructure projects. Sector strategies may rely on breaking down service functions, e.g., between power generation and distribution-resulting in complex linkages that need to be defined before a PPP can realistically be implemented.
The resulting comprehensive sector strategy and road map will set out the initial timetable and action plan for:
• strategic planning,
• organizing and managing the process,
• collecting additional information,
• defining objectives,
• resolving constraints,
• defining scope,
• selecting options,
• identifying partners,
• financing for investment,
• cost recovery strategy,
• regulatory strategy,
• finalizing the terms of the partnership,
• tendering and procurement,
• negotiating and contracting,
• managing the contract,
• monitoring and evaluation,
• managing disputes, and
• managing transitions.
Using the results of the analysis outlined in sections 3.1-3.5, the PPP road map will more specifically describe the high-level action plan for:
• Technical
- defining and documenting the desired technical outcomes of the partnerships,
- defining the correct metrics for measuring improvement,
- defining the necessary investments for achieving improvement,
- developing the procurement plan and process for achieving the investments, and
- defining and documenting the expected improvements which do not require major investment.
• Legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks
- creating a policy framework for PPP activity and regulation;
- establishing a process to make the legal reforms needed to reduce impediments to improved/expanded service such as assignment of responsibility for development, control, financing, regulating, and managing infrastructure assets;
- establishing a process to make any realistic legal reforms needed to overcome potential constraints to PPP including limits on assets ownership or management, repatriation of resources, and barriers to cost recovery;
- establishing a process to enact the regulatory requirements of the PPP including monitoring of service obligations, compliance with service conditions, consumer protection, tariff regulation, and asset management;
- developing a PPP process that is consistent with the legal and regulatory regime; and
- developing PPP legislation that seeks to address perceived gaps in the legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Institutional and capacity status
- assigning the appropriate level of authority to each institution in the sector;
- creating new institutions such as regulators, which might be required;
- educating each institution on new roles and training staff to perform new functions;
- developing the manuals, procedures, standards, and other tools required to implement new functions; and
- providing technical assistance for transition periods.
• Commercial, financial, and economic issues
- agreeing with stakeholders on the economic balance of costs and benefits to be achieved in sector reform,
- designing a PPP plan to achieve these sector results, and
- developing a financing plan for PPP that is realistic for the market and is commercially viable and sustainable.
The road map provides the context, sets out how a proposed PPP is expected to help achieve sector goals, and describes the steps to be taken to prepare for and implement PPP. A well-defined road map and a well-managed process provide a degree of certainty and reassurance to all participants. The road map and PPP process will incorporate a timetable that should be adhered to as closely as possible. Decision makers and participants must be made aware of key dates and milestones. The PPP process as implemented against the road map is described in the subsequent chapters.
The road map and the activities it encompasses must be subject to continual updating. As the transaction evolves and is further defined, the specific requirements for implementation become clearer and required activities can be outlined in detail.