MEDIA

Echoes from the field

Public-Private Partnership Workshop in N’Djamena

The African Legal Support Facility (the “ALSF” or the “Facility”) hosted a series of workshops on the Fundamentals of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in N’Djamena, Tchad. The workshops, facilitated by DS Avocats’ Issakha Ndiaye and David Hountondji, and Chadian firm LexAfric’s Beti Nodjitan. The workshop debuted on Monday, 15 November 2021, with a half-day session for Ministers and High-level government officials, providing them with key information to allow them to make key decisions on PPPs. The Honorable Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Mr. Ali Djadda Kampard opened the first-day’s workshop by emphasizing the need for more PPPs in Chad and thanked the Facility for its assistance in the review of the legal framework and especially for the practical workshops delivered to the Ministers. The second workshop, which was held on 16 November 2021, featured modules on fundamentals of project finance, comparative case studies of PPPs in other African countries, and negotiation of PPPs. The full-day workshop was tailored specifically for Cabinet Directors, Secretary Generals and members of Parliament. Finally, the third workshop in the series was held over a four (4) day period, from 17-21 November 2021, and was designed for technicians and other personnel involved with PPPs. This workshop featured several case studies and opportunities for participants to interact with the information by taking on the role of different stakeholders and ultimately deciding on whether or not to fund mock projects. Overall, the workshop successfully trained 69 government officials.

The Facility was represented by Ms. Shaina Salman, Mr. Rajneesh Seeras and Ms. Roseline Adou-Abodo. Ms. Salman gave opening and closing remarks in which she highlighted the importance of PPPs across the continent and thanked the Government for the continued collaboration. The workshop was formally closed by the African Development Bank’s Country Manager to the Republic of Chad who also highlighted the Bank’s current projects in Chad.