Projects > Brief descriptions > PPP Fund – Fragile States West Africa

Contact person

Mr Johannes Knapp
Email: johannes.knapp@giz.de

PPP Fund – Fragile States West Africa

Project description

Title: PPP Fund – Fragile States West Africa
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Overall term: 2011 to 2015

Context

In fragile states in West Africa, economic and social infrastructure is weakened by long conflicts and crises. During the post-conflict period, governments are not in a position to provide this infrastructure for the population or to open up income-generating opportunities. The economic and social situation of a large proportion of the population is therefore problematic.

In such an environment, private-sector companies can play an important role, enabling the population to take up paid employment and generate income. However, the success of these companies is limited by inadequate public infrastructure, an insufficiently qualified workforce, a lack of rule of law, inefficient public authorities and commercial processes and, not least, by a lack of skilled local suppliers and services.

Objective

Thanks to development partnerships with the private sector, the economic and social situation of the population in selected fragile states in West Africa has improved.

Approach

The thrust of the project’s activities revolves around providing a fund to implement specific development partnerships with the private sector in target fragile states of West Africa. This fund aims to give the population fast and sustainable access to income-generating activities and social services.

Within the project framework, GIZ cooperates with strong companies, preferably ones that operate supraregionally, and that have the financial means and operations required to deal with difficult situations in a fragile environment. The companies respect core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, anti-corruption and building a strong relationship with the community.

Development partnerships pool the respective strengths of the private sector and of GIZ. They are jointly planned, financed and implemented. Here, the companies benefit from GIZ’s experience, expertise, contacts and worldwide network of experts. At the same time, their commitment contributes to achieving development-policy goals.