Problem: I work on multi-billion-dollar projects… and I still don’t understand how anyone makes money. And if you have it… You’re not the only one. You’re parachuted in projects and they expect you to know everything. Little training. Almost no mentoring. You get your head over the water or you sink. What if I told you that there is a place where You’ll understand how a PPP is structured Who makes money When Why And how to avoid being the one who loses Yeah… Unfiltered opinion about How money...
3 days ago • 1 min read
It’s surprising human’s resistance to change. A clause. A clause destined to fail. And it did. Problems. Disputes. Relationships destroyed. Delays. Claims. And you know what… They repeat in the next project… Even if it is evident that the clause will generate issues. Too much grey. Sometimes this grey has advantages within a group of reasonable and experienced people. But unfortunately, common sense is uncommon. I explained the issue. Everybody nodded. And of course… the clause remained…...
4 days ago • 1 min read
I love going to local markets. I tried one this weekend. All vendors shouting: “Try this.” “Taste that.” “Best cheese in town.” “Organic honey.” Everyone fighting for your attention. It’s nice. It feels human. You try things. You buy things. You feel good helping local producers. I love that. But price is sometimes an issue. It’s not cheap. And it can’t be cheap. These guys work at very small scale. Their margins need to be enormous just to make a living. I don’t blame them. And honestly,...
5 days ago • 1 min read
I’m an engineer. By accident. But an engineer nevertheless. I’ve seen landslides during construction, and after construction. Specifications not converting properly between inches and cm. Expansion joints popping up in summer like popcorn. Pavement failing in the first winter after opening. Subcontractors going broke. Or bought by the competition you stole the project from… But still… 80% of serious PPP failures are NOT technical… They are contractual. Risk allocation errors Toxic KPI regimes...
6 days ago • 1 min read
You know I’m no fan of the World Bank. But from time to time, curiosity opens some doors. This is what I found. More than 50% of PPPs are renegotiated… Let that sink in. 50%. And usually in favor of the private sector... 50–60% of PPP contracts in developed countriesand up to 70% in emerging marketsare renegotiated within the first 5–7 years. So the contract you sign is not the contract you live with. What does it mean? Simple… It means the real risk allocationis not the one approved by...
7 days ago • 1 min read
This week I received a message from a subscriber that should make every government, agency, and consulting firm uncomfortable. It came from a man who led one of the most successful Education PPPs in the world. A $165 million program funded by USAID.Implemented across 10 districts in Sindh, Pakistan.State-of-the-art schools.A pioneering Education Management Organization (EMO) model.One of the few genuine unsolicited PPP projects in the country.A full PPP Guide & Toolkit still in use today. He...
8 days ago • 1 min read
It is a much small bag. But my wife is happier. Christmas present. She needed a new bag. Found one she liked but it was much smaller than her previous bag. She was worried. But yesterday, she said. I'm very happy with this bag. You know why? Surprise me... (but I knew the answer). As it smaller, I put less things inside, and it's much lighter. Like tender documentation. I've been heavily criticised for being a fanatic of reducing as much as I can the "space" for bidders to explain their...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Almost a year in the market. 3.5 million. Then, 3.0. Then, 2.9. I liked it, I compared it with the market. I thought that 2.8 – 2.9 mil could be a good deal. Offer: 2.75 million. Not very big, not too fancy… but a view. You have to pay well for those things in NZ… and not an investment, but a place to live. Anyway. Counter-offer… 3.2 million. The agent called it buyer’s regret. I call it, not serious. This happened in December. And this is not uncommon. I’ve seen teams that once named...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Eastern Europe. Late 2000s. If you are old enough, you can feel the context. A massive highways PPP. Toll road. Billions in capex. One of those “nation-building” projects politicians love to parade in front of TV cameras. You can smell now the country… Your consortia are seasoned. Anyone knowing how to pour asphalt on top of something lined up. Your lenders are aligned. Your traffic advisors have gone blind staring at stochastic models. Everyone is gearing up for a clean, competitive...
11 days ago • 2 min read