Public-Private Partnerships in Global Value Chains : Can They Actually Benefit the Poor?

This paper examines evidence on the potential and the conditions under which public-private partnerships can bring about inclusive development. It addresses the three main debates surrounding the potential of PPPs: the alignment of business and pro-poor development interests; the actors and institutions that determine how the system works; and the outcomes that can be achieved in a global industry context. The study argues that firms in the value chain have distinct functions, power-positions, and commercial incentives to catalyze change in their supply chains. For PPPs to be effective in promoting inclusive development, they must recognize and leverage the existing power asymmetries and governance structures in the chains