Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Training from Georgetown Supports Ashghal’s Infrastructure Projects

Twenty two employees from Qatar’s Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, recently completed a Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) custom designed Executive Education Certificate Course on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to review current experiences in developing successful long-term contracts between the government and private sector.

The two-day course, titled “PPP Definition, Rationale, and Structuring Options,” took place at the campus of GU-Q, and built on a foundational PPP course that most participants had previously completed. Participants reviewed the workings and implications of PPPs, as well as specific case studies that relate to Ashghal projects. The custom designed approach allowed participants to see how the local PPP framework aligns with global standards.

Rodolph Boughaba, the associate dean for Executive Education at GU-Q, said: “Providing training for best practices among government departments in Qatar is a core offering of our executive education services. We were proud to leverage Georgetown University’s significant resources and expertise in developing a course that fits the specific organizational needs of Ashghal, and we look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and service.”

To maximize the impact of the training course, several stakeholders in Ashghal’s public works projects also participated, including representatives from the Office of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance, and representatives from Ashghal’s PPP Advisors; PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and the global law firm Eversheds Sutherland. Eng.

Mohammed Masoud Al-Marri, Chairman of Ashghal’s PPP committee, noted that training and professional education is a strategic capacity building priority for Ashghal. “When deciding on which training course to pursue, we knew that we wanted a PPP program tailored specifically to Qatar and to the work we are doing at Ashghal. We have several critical programs in the pipeline, including projects for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and we were looking for training that would contribute to their success, as well as for future projects.”

Ashghal also took a lead in drafting the agenda, and defining the customised training needs. Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Marri added: “Ashghal has adopted best practices in the field of development, implementation, and management of infrastructure. Professional education is an important pillar of our capacity building strategy, and helps us fulfill our commitment to ensuring that Qatar is among the most developed countries in terms of its infrastructure, globally.”

The course was taught by John Buttarazzi, a PPP professional with more than 25 years of experience in this field. John is affiliated to Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy in Washington, DC.