Do state holding companies promote the success of private participation in the water sector? Apparently not, judging from experience in four African countries. There are very few functions that state holding companies are better suited for performing than other entities are.When the Gambia,...

When the Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal decided to involve the private sector in the provision of water services, they also established state holding companies - state-owned entities with exclusive or partial responsibilities for: a) owning infrastructure assets; b) planning and financing...