In collaborative study, researchers from Indian Institute of Management Lucknow and Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, have developed a framework to strengthen governance in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
PPP projects play a significant role in infrastructure development but such projects often face challenges such as contract disputes, investment risks, Institutional gaps, and other issues such as transparency, trust, and integrity. Though these projects are recognised globally, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive framework that can enable managers to design and monitor accountability across the entire project lifecycle.
To address this gap, Prof. Dipti Gupta, Assistant Professor, IIM Lucknow, along with Prof. Santosh Kumar Prusty, Assistant Professor, IIM Ranchi, have developed a PPP Accountability Framework that combines theoretical drivers such as trust, dialogue, multi-dimensionality, and external control.
Published in the reputed journal Built Environment Project and Asset Management, the research draws on real-world PPP cases to integrate accountability-related themes such as transparency, integrity, responsibility, and performance.
Key highlights of the developed framework include:
Facilitates the assessment and monitoring of PPP projects by designing suitable accountability governance policies
Can design internal and external control mechanisms through stakeholders’ dialogue and collaborative decision-making methods, which can enhance transparency, trust, responsibility, and integrity
Can be used by policymakers in defining risk-sharing policies and contract management strategies across multiple dimensions of accountability in PPP
Speaking about the potential real-world application of the developed framework, Prof. Dipti Gupta, said, “the proposed accountability framework provides multifaceted implications for policymakers managing PPP projects such as maximum public display and media coverage of complete information, following joint decision-making process, clarifying individual responsibility, and continuous external and internal review of performance.”
The developed framework can be used by the policymakers, regulating authorities, and project managers in designing accountability governance policies, risk-sharing mechanisms, and performance management systems for PPP projects.
By fostering transparency and trust, the framework enables better stakeholder participation and enhances the long-term sustainability of public infrastructure projects.