Public-Private Partnerships for Major Projects in Afghanistan: The Role of Regional Cooperation in their Implementation

Public–Private Partnership (PPP) is a long-term contract between private enterprises and governments for providing public assets or services, in which the private sector assumes substantial risk, manages the project, and bears all associated responsibilities and costs. In essence, PPP refers to an agreement between public institutions—either central or local units—and private investors, whereby the latter undertakes the financing, construction, or procurement of a portion of a public service or facility and later manages it. The purpose of this research is to identify the sectors in which PPP-based investment can positively influence national and regional development, and to examine regional examples, cooperation, and opportunities in this regard, offering necessary recommendations. This is a qualitative–descriptive study that relies on secondary data collected from credible books, journals, reports, previous studies, and publications from regional and international institutions and organizations. The findings show that Afghanistan urgently needs the implementation of major projects in five key sectors—infrastructure, water and energy, health, tourism, and mining. At the same time, regional countries can play a constructive role by providing financial assistance, technical expertise, capacity building and transfer of skills, establishing free-trade areas, promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation, extending diplomatic support, and contributing to policy and planning frameworks. Collectively, such collaboration could help alleviate unemployment in Afghanistan, boost GDP, and pave the way towards economic stability.