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Most people think Africa is where PPPs go to die
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Most people think Africa is where PPPs go to die. They’re wrong. It’s where PPPs go to prove whether a government is serious. ​ Senegal was. ​ Early 2000s. Dakar traffic was a nightmare. Congestion so bad the city was losing productivity every hour. Everyone talked about “solutions”. Nobody wanted to pay. ​ Then the government did something unusual for the region: They decided to treat risk like adults. ​ Clear demand analysis. Transparent procurement. A concession contract with actual teeth. And a private partner that had to put money where their mouth was. ​ When problems appeared… and they always do…. Senegal didn’t panic. They didn't change the rules mid-game. They didn’t use the project as a jobs program. They used the contract. ​ The result? ​ A toll road that became West Africa’s reference point. Reliable. Maintainable. Bankable. Expandable. ​ And here’s the uncomfortable part: ​ Senegal didn’t succeed because they were rich. They succeeded because they behaved like a country that wanted to be. ​ Most nations with ten times their GDP still can’t deliver a road without blaming consultants, “complexity”, or the moon phases. ​ Senegal delivered because they understood the real definition of PPP. ​ A partnership where someone bleeds if things go wrong. And someone wins if things go right. But nobody rewrites the contract halfway through. ​ Other governments should take notes. But they won’t. Because discipline is harder than excuses. ​ For more PPP stories, check below. ​The top 15 Lessons of a successful project​ ​The top 15 lessons of a nightmare project​ ​Don't be embarrassed. ​ ​ PD 1: If you liked this email, don't keep it in secret and forward it to a friend. They will thank you enormously one day. PD 2: If somebody has sent you this email and you want to receive emails like this yourself, visit vicentevalencia.com PD 3: If you want unsubscribe, click the link below. ​ ​ |
Vicente Valencia
I talk about Personal Growth, Management, Infrastructure and More | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇
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