Policy Process Analysis of PPP Policy Improvement for Sustainable Development : The Case of Colombian Road PPP Policy

Public-Private Partnerships (hereinafter PPPs) have become a popular approach for sustainable infrastructure development around the world over the past twenty years. A vast number of studies that investigate the critical factors or the best practices for PPPs have emerged from variety of sources including developing country governments, multilateral agencies, consultants, as well as academic field. However, implementation of PPP projects in developing countries is progressing at slower pace and to a lesser extent than expected. One of the major challenges for implementing PPPs would be the obstacles in policy process; for instance, politics hindering an agenda setting for policy improvement. This study thus aims to clarify the process in which the Colombian road PPP policy has been successfully improved and to draw implications on how to promote PPP policy in countries that have not fully developed its PPP policy.This research identified various driving factors for the road PPP policy development of Colombia through analyzing the policy processes in several periods with information gained by literature reviews and interview surveys. Seven factors were identified that contribute to the development of the Colombian road PPP policy. These are; (i) specification of problems by Multilateral Development bank; (ii) political desire to overcome failure; (iii) integration to the global economic system; (iv) policy learning from other countries experiences; (v) policy learning from domestic past experiences; (vi) smooth takeoff after extensive institutional and legislative reform; and (vii) success of the model project.Implications of the study relates to; how MDBs could contribute to opening policy window and utilize the opportunity; importance of lesson learning for developing countries' government agencies and how they could foster accumulation of PPP knowledge and expertise; and the morale-boosting effect of a showcase project and relevant timing of the implementation