Public-private partnerships are all the buzz in the African health sector, where financing is in short supply. Just four African countries have met domestic spending targets for the sector, and many see PPPs as a way to plug the gap.

PPPs involve an arrangement between governments and private sector organizations in the delivery of a public good or service. While few dispute their potential, PPPs present a series of political and regulatory challenges. At the Africa Health Business Symposium in Dakar this week, officials and business people met to discuss how they might lay the groundwork for better partnerships.

Successful public-private relationships strike a balance between providing a public service and generating a return on investment for the private sector partners. In Dakar, stakeholders discussed concrete policy changes and tweaks that can help, including harmonizing laws among countries to facilitate cross-border partnerships, creating clear regulatory frameworks, and providing incentives such as tax breaks and subsidies to lure private investment.

Read the full article by Sara Jerving about public-private partnerships from Devex International Development