The document discusses public-private partnerships (PPPs) in information and communication technologies (ICT) for education. It outlines how PPPs can help finance ICT investments in education by providing resources from the private sector. Successful PPP examples that have helped achieve education goals through e-learning and mobile learning are described, such as the ITU Internet Training Centers initiative partnership between ITU and Cisco. Challenges to effective PPPs include issues around resources, evaluation, regulations, and national sovereignty. Recommendations to strengthen PPPs include creating private sector incentives, implementing good regulatory frameworks, setting clear objectives, and promoting good governance.

1. 
Public-Private Partnerships in ICT4D:
The case study of e-education.
The Importance of PPPs in ICT for capacity building.
Charlyne Restivo.
July 2013. ITU, Geneva.

2. Introduction
 MDGs1
=> ICTs2
=> e-education : achieving the universal education &
gender equality goals through ICTs.
 The challenge of financing ICT investments in education : high cost for
governments especially in times of debt crisis.
 Public-Private Partnerships = strategic agreement to implement
public education policies.
 How can we build a sustainable model of e-education
implementation through Public-Private Partnerships?
1. MDGs: Millennium Development Goals; 2.ICTs: Information Telecommunication Technologies

3. Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) in ICT for
education
Content
I. The importance and impact of PPPs in e-education.
A. PPPs to promote e-education services.
What are PPPs? What’s their purpose in ICT4E?
B. The Success Stories.
Emerging trends & case study.
II. Building effective PPPs for ICT for education.
A. Challenges faced by PPPs in capacity building.
Why do PPPs generate mixed reactions; WSIS + 10 Challenges for AL 4 & 7
B. Recommendations on furthering PPPs in e-education.
What can be done in the Public Sector, Private Sector and UN side?

4. I. The importance and impact of PPP in e-education
A. Financing e-education through PPPs
 PPP = combination of Gov./ I.O.s (e.g. ITU, WB, WTO, G20…) and actors from private
sector => collective action for common interest.
“PPP is a generic term for projects involving both the public and private sectors. The
involvement can be to varying degrees and the
partnership can take different forms.” Web Definition
 Benefits of PPPs, a “win-win” agreement:
- Public sector seeks financial resources/ provides political legitimacy;
regulatory action; protection of public interest.
- Private seeks new markets/ provides resources; technology.
 Type of investments:
- Infrastructure & equipment. Ex: Fiber optics (high-speed internet); broadband network coverage
extension
- Capacity building: e-skilling initiatives. Ex: training of teachers, students...

5. I. The importance and impact of PPP in e-education
B. Success Stories of PPP led e-education
services.
Case study of successful PPPs which have implemented WSIS action lines (4;7) and
contributed to meeting the MDG’s.
 2 major emerging trends since WSIS 2003:
- E-learning. Ex: online universities; open resource platforms (ITU Academy; UNESCO; MIT...)
- Mobile-Learning. Ex: applications; tablets; digital textbooks (Nokia; Alcatel-Lucent…)
 Successful partnerships in ICT for basic education. Ex: online skills training for teachers;
students; executives.
The Cisco Academy; Intel World Ahead programme; Microsoft Innovative Programme…
Case study: ITU Internet Training Centres initiative (ITCI) – Cisco Systems, Inc.

6. Government
Host
Learning
Institution
National
Telecom
Operator
High-Level
Facilitator
Provides support &
mobilizes resources
Collaboration
HOST
Case study of successful PPP:
ITU Internet Training Centres initiative (ITCI) – Cisco
Systems
ITU: Project manager
Cisco Networking
Academy Programme
- Delivers equipment
(PCs).
- Provides multimedia
educational content .
- Selects learning Inst.
- Negotiates partnership
agreements.
- Funds training of 2
instructors / center.
55 Training Centres
47 Participating
countries
2243 students

7. II. Building effective PPPs for ICT for
education
A. Challenges faced by PPPs in
capacity building.
 The resource mobilization challenge.
Private sector profitability > Financial assistance to the Public Sector.
 It is hard to evaluate PPPs & the outcomes are varied.
Difficult transition for low-income communities. Ex: School-based telecentres project : fees for
users after school hours.
 The regulatory and legal framework.
Business interest may conflict with overall interest
 Local providers vs. transnational providers: issues of national sovereignty.
Implications of opening markets to multinationals
Goal: Creating an environment for collective action by sustaining interest of
both Public and Private sector in order to further PPP in the e-education sector.
How?

8. II. Building effective PPPs for ICT for
education
B. The way forward
“It is widely recognized within the UN system that there is a need to increase the capacity of
Governments at all levels to implement PPPs successfully”. Marek Belka, Executive Secretary, UNECE.
 Creating incentives for the private sector.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and tax breaks to encourage investments.
 Implementing a good regulatory framework to attract investments.
The role of the UN in providing guidance to build frameworks.
 PPP policy has to set clear and realistic objectives.
 Promoting “Good Governance” to extend the use of PPPs.
Governance : quality and effectiveness of institutions in translating policy into successful implementation.
Key principles: participation; transparency, accountability … => The role of the UN

9. How can we build a sustainable model of e-education
implementation through PPPs?
Conclusion
Key role of the UN in promoting PPPs
Surfing on the Corporate Social Responsibility wave.
Bibliography
Identifying emerging trends in a vision beyond 2015, WSIS forum 2012, 2012,Geneva, Switzerland.
Guidebook on promoting good governance in Public-Private Partnership, UNECE, New York City, Geneva 2008.
Pillay H; Harn G; Public-private partnerships in ICT for education, Academic paper, Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2009–2010, Penang, Malaysia.
www.itu.int

10. How can we build a sustainable model of e-education
implementation through PPPs?
Conclusion
Key role of the UN in promoting PPPs
Surfing on the Corporate Social Responsibility wave.
Bibliography
Identifying emerging trends in a vision beyond 2015, WSIS forum 2012, 2012,Geneva, Switzerland.
Guidebook on promoting good governance in Public-Private Partnership, UNECE, New York City, Geneva 2008.
Pillay H; Harn G; Public-private partnerships in ICT for education, Academic paper, Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2009–2010, Penang, Malaysia.
www.itu.int