Despite the increasing reliance on private capital in the power sector, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in developing countries often struggle with sustainability due to complex, interdependent risk environments. This study aims to identify the interrelationships among factors that threaten sustainable PPP-based power infrastructure development and to propose effective mitigation strategies. Risk factors were consolidated and classified into Construction, Operational, and General categories. Using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), hierarchical levels were assigned to these factors to visualize their structural dependencies. The analysis revealed that Political, Legal, and Environmental risks are located at the foundational levels (Levels VI and V) of the hierarchy, acting as primary drivers that trigger subsequent operational failures. Given their critical roles, these factors were prioritized to establish targeted risk mitigation strategies. To address Political risk, the study proposes mitigating political uncertainty and diversifying financing channels. Regarding Regulatory risk, it emphasizes balancing investment between power generation and transmission and distribution (T&D) grid infrastructure. For Environmental risk, ensuring social acceptance and environmental reputation is suggested. The findings provide a systematic basis for practical policies by accounting for risk interrelationships rather than treating factors in isolation. Theoretically, this research shifts the academic focus from simple risk identification to a structural understanding of risk propagation within the power value chain. By elucidating the hierarchical nexus between grid constraints and project sustainability, this study offers a strategic framework for ensuring long-term viability in complex developing markets. • Examines risk factors affecting PPP power infrastructure in developing countries. • Uses interpretive structural modeling to analyze risk factor interrelationships. • Political, regulatory, and social risks emerge as the most influential drivers. • Construction risks have high driving power; operational risks have low driving power. • Proposes priority mitigation strategies to enhance sustainable PPP development.

Inclusive governance and sustainable value co-creation in circular business models: The case of ‘neighbourhood hubs against food waste’ in Milan

Persistent infrastructure deficiencies continue to challenge the delivery of quality basic education in many developing contexts, prompting governments to adopt Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as alternative mechanisms for school infrastructure development. This study examined the impact of PPP initiatives on the availability, quality, and sustainability of infrastructure in public basic education schools, anchored on Human Capital Theory, which emphasizes the role of adequate learning environments in fostering educational and socio-economic development. Employing a descriptive research design, the study gathered data from 45 public school teachers and school heads in Tiaong I District, Philippines, using a researcher-developed questionnaire administered via Google Forms. Descriptive statistical techniques were utilized to analyze respondents’ perceptions and experiences regarding PPP-supported infrastructure projects. The findings revealed that PPPs have contributed positively to the increased availability of essential school facilities, particularly classrooms, laboratories, and sanitation amenities. Respondents generally assessed the quality of PPP-developed infrastructure as satisfactory, indicating improvements in functionality and learning conditions. However, concerns were raised regarding long-term maintenance, sustainability, and institutional accountability. Key challenges identified included delays in project implementation, limited stakeholder and community engagement, and the absence of clearly defined maintenance responsibilities after project turnover. To enhance the effectiveness of PPP initiatives, respondents recommended greater transparency in project implementation, formalized maintenance agreements, and stronger participation of school communities and local stakeholders. The study concludes that while PPPs offer a viable strategy for addressing infrastructure gaps in basic education, their long-term effectiveness depends on sustained collaboration, institutionalized accountability mechanisms, and proactive maintenance planning. The findings provide empirical evidence to inform policymakers, school administrators, and private partners in strengthening PPP frameworks to ensure durable, equitable, and sustainable infrastructure development in basic education systems.

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, remains a major public health challenge in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to report some of the highest global rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight, with stunting affecting up to 57.7% of children under five, while overweight and obesity are rising sharply, particularly in urban populations. This review synthesizes published evidence on the prevalence, mechanisms, and socio-environmental drivers of malnutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the continent. Literature was identified through a narrative review of peer-reviewed articles, institutional datasets, and global health reports published between 2000 and 2025. Biological pathways, including early-life nutritional deprivation, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity-induced inflammation, interact with food insecurity, rapid urbanization, and socioeconomic inequalities to increase NCD risk. Effective interventions include community-based nutrition programs, food fortification policies, fiscal measures such as sugar taxes, and technology-enabled approaches like mHealth. Strengthening public-private partnerships and integrating nutrition and NCD prevention within health, agriculture, and social protection systems are essential. In addition, greater emphasis on implementation capacity, equitable policy design, and improved monitoring systems is critical for ensuring sustainable impact. Addressing Africa’s double burden requires coordinated, context-specific, and multisectoral strategies to reduce both undernutrition and overnutrition and improve long-term population health outcomes.

ABSTRACT Public private partnership literature promotes hybrid implementation structures as a potential solution to deal with limited resources and high levels of implementation burden and complexity. Despite the growing relevance and promises of hybrid implementation structures, we lack systematic knowledge on what makes governments opt for the establishment of this type of implementation structure. We modify Sabatier and Mazmanian's (1980) seminal model of effective implementation to examine the determinants of policy compliance in the case of a distributive Swiss federal policy that aims at incentivizing hybrid service delivery in its subnational units, that is, the cantons. The Swiss New Regional Policy (NRP) disburses funds to foster peripheral regions and sets the output goal for the cantons to involve private actors as project managers. Analyzing a dataset of 977 implemented NRP projects at the cantonal level using Bayesian logistic multi‐level models, we find that opting for hybrid structures in implementation is not only (1) influenced by the willingness of the cantons to comply with the overall goals of the policy but (2) also by project costs and the amount of financial and personnel resources the cantons possess. This latter insight implies that hybrid implementation structures can be a valid alternative for traditional forms of implementation when governments do not have enough capacities to set up and run regional projects without the help of private actors.

ABSTRACT In recent decades, local governments in South America have implemented fiscal and technical-regulatory incentives to foster a competitive “business climate”. Throughout the region, local urban management has increasingly utilized Public-Private Partnerships to bolster the real estate industry and “urban development”. This association has been encouraged by international organizations as beneficial for local governments, arguing that they facilitate the private production of urban land and housing and provide resources to municipalities in a context characterized by significant economic constraints. This article presents a critical analysis of the implementation of Urban Development Agreements – a form of PPP for urban development – in three Argentine cities during the 2003–2023 period. The study interrogates the pattern of urban space production and consumption promoted by these agreements, as well as the evolving role of urban regulation and local governance. Based on case studies, the research demonstrates that – under the dominance of neoliberal urbanism in the Global South- UDAs not only reinforce the commodification of urban land and housing but also accelerate and institutionalize it, thereby redefining the functions of the local state. The findings reveal that these instruments drive exclusive urban consumption patterns, deepening pre-existing social segregation and inequalities in access to the city.

Pakistan’s language policy (LP) has historically reinforced hierarchies privileging Urdu and English over indigenous languages, contributing to persistent patterns of linguistic and educational exclusion. Drawing on the findings of a politico-historical review of 91 scholarly and grey literature sources, this policy brief examines how shifts in political structures have shaped LP development and language activism (LA) in education. It situates these dynamics within wider struggles for equity, recognising LP as both a policy product and a site of contestation where actors negotiate linguistic power and educational access. Findings reveal that LP evolution in Pakistan has been non-linear, shaped by cycles of contestation and negotiation between state control and activism. Three key phases are identified: (1) Centralised and Exclusionary LP (1947–1971)—marked by nation-building and Urdu dominance; (2) Gradual Recognition of Linguistic Rights (1972–2009): featuring partial accommodation of regional languages; and (3) Decentralised and Participatory LP (2010–present), seemingly enabled by the 18th Amendment’s devolution of education. Despite increased space for activism, challenges persist in teacher capacity, curriculum design, and coordination between federal and provincial policy actors. The brief recommends developing and implementing a multilingual policy framework with a laddering approach and retaining Urdu and English as accessible mediums of instruction to support social mobility while ensuring inclusion of regional languages. Additional recommendations include: engaging teachers in policy and materials development, instituting transparent review processes, integrating translanguaging pedagogies in teacher education, and fostering public–private partnerships to strengthen implementation of multilingual education. Pakistan’s experience highlights that sustainable language-in-education (LIE) reform requires long-term institutional dialogue between state, academia, and activism. Decentralisation has opened opportunities for inclusion, but equitable implementation demands a coherent effort from all involved to improve quality teacher training mechanisms, promote mutual learning, and ensure shared accountability between national and provincial institutions.

This study addresses the lack of an updated systematic synthesis of research on critical success factors (CSFs) for public-private partnership (PPP) projects. A systematic literature review was conducted on journal articles published between 2014 and 2025 through a three-stage process comprising a Scopus search, article screening, and content analysis. The review shows that the literature has expanded steadily over the period, with transportation and general infrastructure remaining the most frequently examined sectors and developing countries constituting the main empirical setting. Methodologically, the field has become more diversified, with continued reliance on questionnaire surveys and interviews alongside increasing use of structured modelling techniques. The literature also shows growing interest in project-phase issues, stakeholder differences, and context-specific applications of CSFs. Overall, the review confirms the continuing importance of CSFs in shaping PPP performance, while indicating clear opportunities for future research on phase-specific dynamics, stronger causal evidence, stakeholder-sensitive analysis, and the integration of financial structuring, ESG considerations, and digital technologies.

The paper examines the main challenges facing rural areas in Russia: population decline, chronic underfunding of infrastructure, fragmentation of land use, and low agricultural productivity. The author argues for a shift towards managed rural agglomerations as an integrated system that generates synergy and mutual benefits for all stakeholders. Economic and organizational mechanisms for forming such agglomerations are proposed, and an integral method for assessing agglomeration potential is described using the Voronezh region as a case study. Necessary legal and institutional changes are also discussed, including the formal recognition of rural agglomerations in legislation, the development of public-private partnerships, and the adjustment of existing state support programs. Expected outcomes include higher productivity in agriculture, stemming the outflow of population, integrated land development, and more efficient use of budget funds.

In the context of reduced budgetary financial resources, it becomes obvious that it is impossible to carry out all measures for the construction of communal, transport and social infrastructure facilities provided for in the master plan without attracting extra-budgetary sources. In this regard, there is an increasing interest in attracting investments using public-private partnership mechanisms. The main advantages of concession agreements and public-private partnership agreements over state and municipal contracts are the possibility of attracting extra-budgetary funds, shortened project implementation time, minimizing risks for both parties, as well as the possibility of obtaining federal financial support measures. The concession mechanism is primarily a tool for economic growth and increasing the level of competition, and, consequently, the level of services provided to the population. The main benefit that municipalities receive is the subsequent operation of the created facility by an investor who is primarily interested in high-quality construction, since this subsequently helps to reduce operating costs. Concession agreements, as one of the mechanisms of public-private partnership, have become widespread in the Russian Federation, and their role in creating the necessary infrastructure facilities will only increase in the coming years. With high-quality planning, concession agreements are an effective tool for the construction of facilities important for socio-economic development without excessive burden on the budget.

Purpose: The paper examines the integration of a pharmacy-based primary health care (PHC) model as a practical strategy for expanding healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a particular focus on Kenya. It assesses how pharmacies already widely utilized as first points of care can be systematically incorporated into formal PHC systems to improve access, efficiency, and health outcomes. Methodology: The study adopts a secondary data research design, drawing on global databases (WHO, World Bank, UN), national health data from Kenya, peer-reviewed literature, and policy documents. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative trend analysis and qualitative policy analysis is used, alongside comparative analysis of LMICs and high-income countries with established pharmacy-based PHC models such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Findings: Findings indicate that community pharmacies play a significant yet underutilized role in healthcare delivery in LMICs, accounting for a substantial proportion of first-contact care (40–60%), particularly for minor ailments, chronic medication refills, and preventive services. Comparative evidence demonstrates that countries with integrated pharmacy-based PHC models achieve improved access, reduced facility congestion, shorter waiting times, and enhanced system efficiency through structured reimbursement, defined scopes of practice, and strong governance frameworks. In Kenya, the presence of approximately 8,000 community pharmacies presents a scalable and cost-effective opportunity to expand PHC coverage and support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study contributes to theory by advancing a health systems strengthening perspective that positions community pharmacies as strategic primary care actors within integrated service delivery networks. Practically, it provides an implementation-oriented framework outlining service packages, workforce competencies, referral pathways, and digital integration mechanisms necessary for operationalizing pharmacy-based PHC. From a policy perspective, it offers evidence-based recommendations for legal and regulatory reform, financing through health insurance schemes, public-private partnerships, and the establishment of quality assurance and governance structures. The study further recommends that formal integration of community pharmacies into PHC systems represents a viable, scalable, and high-impact intervention for improving equitable access to healthcare in Kenya and similar LMIC contexts.

The relevance of the study stems from significant changes in traditional trade routes at present, which are associated with both global warming and significant transformations in the global economy. In this regard, the increasing importance of the Volga-Caspian transport corridor, not only as a regional but also as an internationally significant trade route connecting the countries of South Asia with Europe by the shortest route, seems to be likely to become a major feature of global logistics in the medium term. The transformation of this historically established trade route into a sustainable transport corridor, which became a significant factor in Russia’s industrialization, began in the mid-19th century with the formation of a large shipping company in the form of the joint-stock company “Caucasus and Mercury”, which combined in its activities the busy Volga route with the Caspian Sea. The reason for the success of this large-scale project lay in its complex structure as a public-private partnership, combining entrepreneurial initiative with the organizational and economic capabilities of the state. In addition to the logistical component of the Volga-Caspian transport corridor, these joint-stock companies appear to be an essential element of the economic mechanism for the development of vast outlying territories in the south of the Russian Empire, which made it possible to include the natural resources of these regions, in particular oil and oil products from Baku and the Ural-Emba fields, etc., in the single economic space of the country.

Assessing the impact of public–private partnership adoption on regional economic growth in Asia

Introduction. In the context of the global knowledge economy, social institutions of higher education in Russia face challenges such as regional disparities, demographic decline, and insufficient digitalization, which limit access to quality specialist training and hinder societal progress. Objective. The aim of the article is to analyze the dynamics of financial, demographic, and structural indicators to develop mechanisms for improving the quality of universities, contributing to sustainable societal development. Materials and methods. The methodology is based on an empirical approach with a predominance of quantitative analysis of secondary data from official sources, supplemented by a systematic literature review. Processing in-volved calculating growth rates, correlations, and forecasts using descriptive and correlational statistics. Results. The results demonstrate an increase in internal expenditures on research, growth in student numbers, stabilization of admissions, and optimization of the university network, with an emphasis on digitalization and partnerships. Conclusions. It has been established that the integration of financial autonomy, online programs, and public-private partnerships enhances inclusion and innovation, minimizing disparities, although data limitations necessitate further research in the field of artificial intelligence and global comparisons to strengthen the role of education in socioeconomic growth.

The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are among the most strategically important maritime chokepoints in the global trading system. Although conventional threats such as piracy have been managed through regional cooperation, the rapid digitalisation of ports, vessel traffic systems, and naval command infrastructures has created new hybrid cyber-physical vulnerabilities. Despite recurring cyber incidents between 2020 and 2025, no institutionalised real-time cross-border Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) mechanism has emerged among Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. This study examines the puzzle of institutional inertia under growing threat interdependence and its implications for SDG 9, Target 9.1 on resilient infrastructure, and SDG 17, Targets 17.16 and 17.17 on knowledge-sharing and effective public-private partnerships. Drawing on 18 semi-structured interviews and qualitative analysis of policy documents from 2020 to 2025, the study identifies three governance bottlenecks: legal-institutional ambiguity, sovereignty-related political constraints, and technical-operational interoperability gaps. Building on Regional Security Complex Theory and regime complexity scholarship, the article theorises Cooperative Sovereignty as a middle-ground governance modality between supranational integration and sovereignty-maximising bilateralism. It proposes the Malacca Cyber Intelligence Node (MCIN) as a federated, sovereignty-compatible mechanism for structured cyber threat signalling while preserving national control over data. The study contributes to governance scholarship and offers actionable pathways for strengthening maritime cyber resilience in sovereignty-sensitive regions.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the role, current status, and developmental prospects of public–private partnership (PPP) in Azerbaijan’s tourism sector. As tourism gains increased importance for the country’s economic diversification and international positioning, PPP emerges as a key mechanism for leveraging private investment, innovation, and expertise to complement public sector initiatives. Drawing on statistical data from the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan, legislative documents, and international reports from organizations such as the World Bank, UNWTO, OECD, and UNDP, this article evaluates how PPP models have been implemented in Azerbaijan’s tourism sector, their effectiveness in fostering infrastructure development, enhancing service quality, and promoting sustainable tourism in line with global standards. The paper systematically explores the legislative and institutional frameworks that underpin PPPs in Azerbaijan, compares them with international best practices, and identifies gaps and challenges—such as limited sector-specific guidelines, project diversification, and sustainability assessment. Through a detailed comparative analysis presented in tabular form, the article examines the strengths and weaknesses of current PPP practices in the Azerbaijani tourism industry. Key findings indicate that, while foundational progress has been made—especially in the development of tourism infrastructure and heritage conservation—there is significant potential for further enhancement, including expanding PPPs into digital tourism, event management, and marketing, as well as strengthening regulatory clarity and monitoring mechanisms. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at fostering a more dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable tourism environment.

This article examines the methodology for assessing the tourism and recreational potential of the regions of Uzbekistan from economic and ecological perspectives. The author proposes an integrated model (formula) that combines natural, socio-historical, and infrastructure indicators to determine the recreational potential of a region. Based on the results of the SWOT analysis, the weaknesses and risks in the sector are identified, and the necessity of establishing recreational clusters based on public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms is scientifically substantiated to address them. The conclusions of the study have practical significance in the development of regional tourism strategies.

The article provides an overview of the possibilities of using existing modern risk assessment methods, provides a selection of modern risk assessment tools, and identifies the main reasons for evaluating them to determine the prospects for implementing innovative projects in the healthcare system, including in the context of public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms. The purpose of the work is to determine the possibility of using risk assessment techniques in the implementation of promising innovative projects in the healthcare system. The methodology of the work included the development of a risk assessment and management procedure at the design stages of an innovative project, with the definition of the initial data of the risk identification phase and specific risks associated with technologies and external conditions, the choice of the optimal risk assessment method (Value at Risk (Var) Var method – in which the confidence level is up to 99.0%). Within the framework of this method of assessing the effectiveness of the risk management system, the following were identified: indicators of the risk management system, on the basis of which its effectiveness is determined; a mechanism for collecting data to assess the level of achievement of results/risk management system indicators; the procedure for analyzing the indicators of the risk management system and the application of the results of this analysis. The main external risks are grouped, with the dynamics of changes in the studied parameters determined. It should be noted that all the presented methods require adaptation to a specific risk, and each of them needs to be changed to meet the specific goals of the healthcare organization's risk management and environmental conditions. Risk assessment should be carried out periodically, based on the changed conditions of the internal and external environment in the interaction of public and private partners.

This article analyzes ways to improve the provision of affordable housing in Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on the institutional and functional aspects of the government’s affordable housing policy. The effectiveness of the current system is evaluated through the activities of the State Housing Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, revealing key challenges such as limited transparency, the imbalance between income levels and housing prices, socio-economic disparities between the capital and the regions, and the exclusion of citizens with informal income. Drawing on international experience, the article proposes a revision of eligibility criteria for affordable housing, the integration of property ownership data, and the expansion of coverage for socially vulnerable groups. It also emphasizes the importance of increasing state subsidies to reduce construction costs in the regions, implementing public-private partnership mechanisms, and adapting preferential mortgage programs to accommodate the informal sector. The study demonstrates that building affordable housing programs on more inclusive, needs-based, and transparent foundations is of strategic importance both for enhancing social welfare and for ensuring the sustainability of urban development policies. In this regard, the article offers practical and systemic recommendations for improving affordable housing policy.

The article examines the issues of financial support for the revitalization processes of territorial communities in Ukraine under the conditions of the war and post-war recovery. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical interpretation of the concept of revitalization and its role in the transformation of urban spaces that have experienced economic decline, infrastructural degradation, or destruction caused by military actions. The study analyzes various scientific approaches to defining revitalization as a complex and long-term process that combines spatial, economic, social, cultural, and environmental components aimed at restoring the vitality of urban territories and ensuring their sustainable development. The paper summarizes the experience of implementing revitalization projects in Ukraine, including the transformation of former industrial zones into modern cultural, business, and innovation spaces. Among the analyzed examples are Art Factory “Platforma”, Art Center Closer, and UNIT.City, which demonstrate different models of revitalization based on private investment, creative industries, and innovative development strategies. Special attention is given to identifying the main sources of financing for such projects and assessing the role of state, local, private, and international financial resources in supporting urban transformation initiatives. Furthermore, the study analyzes modern financial mechanisms used to support revitalization initiatives, including public funding programs, local budget resources, public-private partnerships, international grants, investment programs of international financial institutions, and innovative financing instruments. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of integrating international experience and best practices into the Ukrainian system of postwar reconstruction and regional development policy. The results of the research can be used for the scientific and theoretical substantiation of revitalization strategies, improvement of financial support mechanisms for urban recovery projects, and development of effective public policy tools aimed at ensuring sustainable development and resilience of territorial communities in Ukraine.