[Answered] Comment on the need for Public-private partnerships in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) concerning sanitation.

Public-private partnerships involve collaboration between a government agency and a private-sector company that can be used to finance, build, and operate projects. Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 targets to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. The second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) targets will be achieved through the help of technology and private sector engagement.

Need for Public-private partnerships in achieving SDG6.2:

• Infrastructure-intensive sector: There is need of massive investment in chronically under-funded and inefficient sanitation sector. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be a mechanism to help governments fund much needed investment and bring technology and efficiency that can improve the performance and financial sustainability of the water sector.
• Inclusive sanitation: PPPs help to build solid and liquid waste management structures. This will be done by employing a participatory and consultative approach through mobilisation of the village communities, corporates, district and block administration and gram panchayat officers. E.g. Lighthouse Initiative (LHI) by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Multi-stakeholder platform: These stakeholders include the private sector, government, financial institutions, civil society groups, media, donors, etc. E.g. in India Sanitation Coalition (ISC), corporates such as ITC, Jindal Steel and Power, etc. have come forward for collaboration.
• PPPs enable the public sector to profit by financial, business and other types of knowledge and skills and an innovative entrepreneurial approach in project implementation and management.
• Small scale private operatorsare becoming more and more commonplace in developing countries, with many donor-sponsored sanitation PPP projects for rural and peri-urban areas having been successfully implemented and scaled up, with new local operators emerging.

One of the main challenges in introducing PPPs in sanitation lies in the proper definition of structures and ‘rules for the game’ for all actors. So, roles and responsibilities must be assigned and regulatory mechanisms must be established from the outset. Moreover, for a successful PPP the involvement of civil society is imperative.