ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the experiences of the World Bank’s support for public enterprise (PE) reform, with a specific look at Africa. It provides a preliminary assessment of the evolution of the Bank’s assistance for PE reform, starting in the late 1970s, highlighting some of the lessons learned that may be applicable to the further development of PE reform programmes. The chapter explains some unresolved issues in carrying out these reforms and presents a broad basis for approaches to reforming PE sectors, whether they are development projects for selected enterprises or are part of larger PE reform programmes. It traces the evolution of the growing number of PE reform programmes, with a particular focus on those programmes in Africa. The persistent difficulties confronting the PE sectors of most African countries reflect the profound over-extension of governments beyond their available means. Many governments are financially, technically and managerially unable to sustain public enterprises on the scale that currently exists.
