Viewed as a key to strengthening accountability, citizen empowerment alone is not enough to guarantee quality public service. It must go hand in hand with better governance. This report highlights two factors that have improved governance and public service provision in developing Asia: (i)...

This publication describes further progress of ongoing and recently undertaken initiatives for the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). It highlights the issues and many of the encouraging outcomes resulting from earlier efforts. It also explores issues expected to emerge in the...

This report is a diagnostic assessment of the readiness of Viet Nam to develop and manage public–private partnerships (PPPs). It was prepared jointly with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and it is part of a series of studies being prepared by the Southeast Asia Department of the...

This report is a diagnostic assessment of the readiness of Cambodia to develop and manage public–private partnerships (PPPs). It was prepared jointly with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and it is part of a series of studies being prepared by the Southeast Asia Department of the...

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) continue to constrain Pacific economies. They absorb scarce capital, suffer low productivity, and often provide high cost and low quality services. SOE reform is vital to create private investment opportunities, reduce the costs of doing business, and improve...