The Project Cycle

Abstract This chapter provides an outline of the ‘project cycle’—i.e. the various phases through which a public-private partnership (PPP) project passes. There are some important general themes that run through the cycle, especially in the earlier phases. The different phases of the project cycle are summarised in this chapter, while subsequent chapters identify the various activities and the issues associated with these in more detail. At various points in the process, approval checkpoints may need to be passed to move to a next phase such as launching the procurement of the project. Such checkpoints are also important sources of quality control, especially given the size and long-term nature of the commitments that PPPs may involve for the public sector. Various frameworks have also been developed by governments to help guide the overall project preparation process, such as the ‘Five-Case Model’.