Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Developing Sustainable Cities: Framework, Opportunities, Mechanisms

Abstract

The rapid rate of global urbanization has forced governments worldwide to develop sustainable cities through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), which appear to offer suitable solutions that overcome the shortage of public finance and cuts on public spending. However, it is still unclear what strategies to follow when engaging private sector partners who can fulfill the requirements of PPP for sustainable cities. Based on the existing gap, the current study seeks to understand the role of PPP as a strategy for developing sustainable cities, by studying its framework, opportunities, and mechanisms. The study adopted a systematic review of relevant literature and published materials. The findings demonstrate that PPPs contribute to developing sustainable cities and further identify four common themes: Governance, Public-Private-People Partnerships (PPPPs), Sustainability, and Innovation. The study concluded that these themes are interconnected within the successful development process of a sustainable city PPP. The study further recommends adopting these themes while developing PPP frameworks and mechanisms for sustainable cities. This study adds to the body of knowledge literature on the applicability of PPPs for sustainable urban development.