Dhaka: SNV and PPP Wing of Invest Bangladesh Authority today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the mainstreaming of Small-Scale Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on helping Local Government Institutions (LGIs) translate the existing small-scale PPP guideline into practical solutions for improved urban service delivery.
The MoU was signed in Dhaka in the presence of representatives from SNV, the PPP Wing of Invest Bangladesh Authority and other relevant stakeholders.
The partnership aims to bridge the gap between policy and implementation by developing practical tools, strengthening institutional capacity and piloting small-scale PPP approaches at the local level.
LGIs are responsible for delivering a range of essential urban services, including water supply, sanitation, faecal sludge management and solid waste management. However, existing PPP processes have traditionally focused on larger infrastructure and national-level projects, creating a need for practical approaches that can be adopted by municipalities and city corporations for smaller-scale urban service initiatives.
Under the MoU, SNV and the PPP wing will collaborate to develop and operationalise tools that can help LGIs and private sector partners navigate the small-scale PPP process.
Key areas of collaboration will include:
The MoU builds on the longstanding collaboration between SNV and the PPP wing. This includes feasibility studies, the first PPP training initiatives specifically focused on Local Government Institutions, and recent capacity development activities involving representatives from all 12 City Corporations in Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, SNV Bangladesh Country Director ISMÈNE R.A.C. STALPERS said, “Small-scale PPPs can create a practical pathway for local governments to work with the private sector to improve essential urban services. This partnership is about moving beyond guidelines and creating the tools, capacity and practical experience needed to make these partnerships work on the ground.”
Choudhury Muazzam Ahmed, Director General of PPP Wing, Invest Bangladesh Authority said, “Effective implementation of small-scale PPPs at the local level can open new opportunities for improving urban service delivery. The collaboration with SNV will support Local Government Institutions with practical guidance and tools to identify, structure and implement viable PPP initiatives. This is the very First time signing any MoU with any International Development Organization, so best wishes to SNV for this.”
The first Secretary for Water and Climate of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) Inge Klaassen said, “Sustainable urban services require innovative partnerships and practical solutions that can work at the local level. We welcome this collaboration to operationalise small-scale PPPs and strengthen the capacity of local governments to engage the private sector. We hope this initiative will generate practical lessons that can be scaled across Bangladesh.”
The initiative is being implemented under SNV's Sustainable Urban Water Cycles (SUWC) programme, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
The partnership is expected to contribute to more efficient, sustainable and resilient urban services by enabling local governments to better leverage private sector expertise, innovation and investment.
The collaboration seeks to establish a clear pathway from guideline to pilot, from pilot to scale, and from partnership to impact.
