Examining the Effectiveness of Public-Private Partnerships in E-Mobility Planning for Sustainable Transportation in East Africa
Author
Ebbefeld, Rumbidzai Nadine Isolde
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-11-15
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, om offentligt-private partnerskaber (OPP) kan fremme udbredelsen af e-mobilitet som en del af bæredygtig transportplanlægning i Østafrika. Med afsæt i den stigende transportefterspørgsel drevet af urbanisering og befolkningsvækst beskrives e-mobilitet som en lovende innovation, men også som vanskelig at skalere, når optaget primært drives af private aktører og møder politiske og institutionelle barrierer. Studiet kombinerer et skrivebordsbaseret litteraturstudie af samarbejdsformer, OPP-typer, roller og barrierer, en kortlægning af OPP-praksis i Østafrika samt europæiske best practices med dybdegående kvalitative interviews med repræsentanter fra offentlige, private (profit og non-profit) og civilsamfundsaktører. Fundene peger på regionale og sektorielle forskelle i villigheden til at indgå OPP: Offentlige og private non-profit aktører udviser generel åbenhed, mens private profitaktører varierer mest. I Kenya og Tanzania søger virksomheder aktivt samarbejde med myndigheder for at lette processer; i Rwanda er partnerskaber velkomne, men ikke afgørende; i Uganda undgår virksomheder ofte samarbejde med staten pga. langsomme processer og oplevet inkompetence. På tværs af lande foretrækker mange private virksomheder, at staten skaber et muligtgørende miljø gennem incitamenter, testzoner og støttende politik i tråd med CO2-mål, frem for at deltage i direkte, betalingsstrømsbundne projekter. Specialet fremhæver desuden vigtige supplerende partnerskaber, fx med køretøjsfinansieringsaktører og organisationer, der arbejder med oplysning og efterspørgselsdannelse, og tydeliggør forskellen mellem at ville og at have behov for samarbejde med det offentlige for at accelerere e-mobilitet.
This thesis examines whether public–private partnerships (PPPs) can accelerate e-mobility uptake as part of sustainable transport planning in East Africa. Responding to rising transport demand from rapid urbanization and population growth, e-mobility is presented as a promising but difficult-to-scale innovation when adoption is led by private actors and constrained by policy and institutional barriers. The study combines desk-based research on collaboration concepts, PPP types, roles and barriers; a review of PPP practice in East Africa alongside European e-mobility best practices; and in-depth qualitative interviews with representatives from public, private (for-profit and non-profit), and civil society organizations. Findings indicate regional and sectoral differences in willingness to collaborate: public and private non-profit actors are generally open to PPPs, while private for-profit actors show the greatest variation. In Kenya and Tanzania, firms actively seek government collaboration to ease processes; in Rwanda, partnerships are welcomed but not deemed essential; in Uganda, companies often avoid government collaboration due to slow pace and perceived incompetence. Across contexts, many private firms prefer government to create an enabling environment—through incentives, pilot-friendly conditions, and supportive policies aligned with CO2 reduction goals—rather than engage in direct, money-flow PPP project initiation. The thesis also highlights the importance of partnerships with vehicle financiers and awareness-raising organizations, and clarifies the difference between wanting and needing to collaborate with government to effectively introduce e-mobility.
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