A guidebook on public-private partnership in infrastructure

G. ESTABLISHMENT OF A MECHANISM FOR STAKEHOLDER 
CONSULTATION, MARKET TESTING AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 
 
A good project marketing strategy would be to identify and engage in 
consultation with the stakeholders from within and outside the government from the 
very beginning of project development. The stakeholders may include: 
• Relevant and knowledgeable officials within the implementing agency; 
• Appropriate representation from all other concerned agencies; 
• Experts in the field; 
• Representatives of interest groups; 
• Likely beneficiaries, affected groups and general public; and
• Representatives of potential private investors. 
The stakeholder consultation process ensures appropriate project structure 
and helps in setting the broad terms of the project gradually over the whole project 
development period. It also greatly helps to identify the major planning and 
implementation issues early on, and to discuss what generally acceptable solutions 
are available for their resolution.
Consultation with stakeholders increases the likelihood that actions taken or 
services provided by the project can more effectively meet the needs of the people 
and that the benefits of development are more equitably shared. The implementing 
agency needs to consider a formal mechanism for such public consultations and 
incorporate the outcomes of consultation in the decision-making process. 
Steps need to be taken for information disclosure on the project through the 
media and other means. Information disclosure helps in better understanding of the 
project by the general public and various interest groups. It also helps in removing 
misgivings and facilitates public participation.
It is important to mention here that public participation is extremely important 
for social sector infrastructure projects (schools, community/civic facilities, housing, 
etc.) as well as for economic infrastructure projects. Considering its importance, 
some governments have devised an in-built mechanism for public participation at the 
planning and design stage of PPP projects. 
 

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A Guidebook on Public-Private Partnership in Infrastructure 
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