The use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) has allowed huge investments into projects across Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, transforming infrastructure and public services and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Government representatives from ten UNECE member States recently met in Geneva for a regional workshop on sustainable PPPs, aimed at supporting Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). The workshop highlighted a decade of progress in PPP development across diverse sectors, including renewable energy, transport, healthcare, education, and culture, underscoring their role in driving sustainable development and regional collaboration. 

Some key developments shared at this event include: 

• Kazakhstan: More than 750 small-scale PPP projects have already been implemented nationwide, reflecting widespread adoption of the model; 

• Kyrgyzstan: The PPP Center manages a portfolio of 80 projects, with investments exceeding USD 2 billion; 

• Türkiye: Total investment in PPP programmes surpasses USD 100 billion, underscoring its leadership in leveraging PPPs for development; and 

• Uzbekistan: Over 63 PPP projects, with a total investment exceeding USD 30 billion, are in the pipeline for completion by 2030. 

As participating countries presented their growing project pipelines, marked by an increase in both the number and scale of initiatives, representatives highlighted the critical role of robust legal frameworks and strategic implementation in enhancing the effectiveness of PPPs within INFFs. These frameworks align diverse financing sources with national SDG priorities, mobilizing resources from both the public and private sectors. 

The UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS) and the Standard on PPPs/Concessions Legal Framework emerged as key enablers of progress. By providing a clear methodology to assess projects against SDG criteria and supporting governments in establishing strong legal foundations for PPPs to contribute to the SDGs, these tools empower governments to achieve “value for people” and “value for the planet” while ensuring “value for money” in their infrastructure projects. 

Participants noted in particular that the PIERS methodology has been instrumental in building investor confidence and ensuring projects deliver long-term societal and environmental benefits. Insights from recent project evaluations underscored the methodology’s potential to transform infrastructure development across the region and attract investments.  

The workshop underscored the ongoing need for training and capacity-building initiatives for the effective implementation of these tools. Participants emphasized the importance of tailoring PPP models to national contexts and aligning infrastructure projects with SDG commitments. 

The event reaffirmed the critical role of INFFs, with PPPs as a cornerstone, in advancing the SDGs. Representatives committed to scaling capacity-building efforts and leveraging UNECE PPP products to drive sustainable development. The lessons and tools discussed during the workshop will play a pivotal role in fostering resilient infrastructure, mobilizing sustainable finance, and accelerating progress towards the SDGs. 

For further information, please visit: https://unece.org/ppp