Practice and Challenges of Public Private Partnership in Local Economic Development: The Case of Road Infrastructure in Wolkite Town, Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia Regional State, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the current practice and challenges of Public Private Partnership in improving road infrastructure in Wolkite town. To achieve the aforementioned objective, the study employed mixed research approach i.e. qualitative and quantitative. Simple random sampling techniques were employed to select 167 representative respondents for Questionnaire. Additionally, key informant interview schedules were used to collect data from purposely selected key-informants. Supplementary secondary data were collected through review of relevant literature from different sources. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis method were used to analyze the collected data. Road infrastructure has economic, social and environmental benefits to the societies residing the study area. The study indicates that the extent of road infrastructure coverage positively impacted local economic growth or development. The main obstacles for effective implementation of public private partnerships in road infrastructure development were personal interest, absence of proper compensation, unwillingness of affected people to leave and ineffective strategic plan implementation in the town. Based on the findings of the study, Wolkite town administration and other concerned stakeholders should give great attention for plan, implementation and rules regarding practice and challenges of pupil-private partnerships in improving road infrastructure in the study area. Moreover, collaboration work should be essential especially among NGOs, practitioners, urban planners, business communities and local residents, to increase, manage, and protect the practices and challenges of public-private partnerships in road infrastructure in local economic development coverage in the town.