There is a growing consensus in recent years that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can offer
sustainable and effective mechanisms for economic development. The importance of PPPs are even more
pronounced in developing economies that are struggling to deal with some of the most challenging infrastructural
and service issues. Within this context, the specific area of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)
has particular relevance, given its enormous potential for advancing development objectives (termed "ICT4D").
However, this potential is a long way from being fulfilled, with ICT advancements in the developing world
lagging far behind OECD and other industrialized countries. Public-Private Partnerships represent a key
mechanism that can contribute in addressing this challenge, offering a large menu of possibilities for cultivating
ICT4D related efforts to their fullest potential.
Inter-sector cooperation involves challenges and complexities which are accompanied by promising
opportunities. How can we make sense of the various types of public and private sector activity in the ICT4D
arena? What are the different models that characterize PPPs in ICT4D and what key opportunities and challenges
do they present? Finally, how can we resolve the misunderstandings inherent in ICD4D PPP efforts? This paper
addresses these questions by reviewing PPPs on a general level and proposing a conceptual model for
understanding the various modalities of PPPs in ICT4D. The model is applied to a case study presented from a
private sector perspective, shedding new light on the intricacies of such PPPs and their potential for accelerating
socio-economic progress in the developing world.
