ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a broad understanding of public private partnerships (PPPs) to consider the evolving ways in which the private sector has displaced the public in the provision of water. It discusses the changing nature of private sector involvement in the sector, from long-term concession contracts through build operate transfer type projects, and most recently into more innovative financing interventions. The chapter shows that despite extensive efforts to promote PPPs in water, the uptake has been extensive, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The chapter discusses some alternative approaches to addressing the challenges of water sector investment. The role of the private sector in the provision of water reflects the trends in neoliberalism outlined by Romero and Van Waeyenberge. Initial enthusiasm in the 1990s was followed by a more circumspect approach in the 2000s in light of disappointing results.
