The purpose of the Toolkit is to assist policymakers and practitioners in government to create an enabling environment for SMEs to be engaged in private sector participation initiatives (e.g., public-private partnerships (PPPs)) in countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), and thereby generate benefits for delivery of essential services, recovery and reconstruction, regional job creation, SME growth and competitiveness, and shared prosperity.

SMEs in general, but especially in FCV contexts, face major costs, risks and capacity and financial constraints.

The Toolkit is not intended to advocate for the use of any particular strategy for provision of essential infrastructure services. Rather, the toolkit aims to assist policy makers in considering how to deal with various issues that may arise when a PSP type of approach is applied.

Learners will have the opportunity to explore:

• An introduction and overview of the toolkit including it's purpose and scope
• Opportunities and challenges for SME in PSP
• Enabling SME participation
• Main types of PSP arrangements
• Planning, procurement and implementation
• Taking stock of results

The Toolkit was developed by the MENA Procurement Group of the World Bank’s Governance Global Practice. It was prepared by a team led by Nazaneen Ali under the direction of Yolanda Tayler. Members of the core team included Simeon A. Sahaydachny and Nataliya Langburd. The team would like to acknowledge the support of the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), including the assistance provided throughout by Sarah Ahmed.