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Private Sector Development
| Private Participation in Infrastructure|
Safir Website | IFUR
Portal
The wave of infrastructure privatization that has been sweeping the world over the past decade or so has seen the rise of a new category of professional - the specialist utility regulator. These regulators, charged with administering regulatory frameworks that seek to balance the interests of consumers and investors in technically complex and politically sensitive industries, can have a major impact on the performance of privatized firms, on the cost of investment capital (and thus on infrastructure tariffs), and on the sustainability of reforms. For this reason, the development of professional, capable utility regulators is needed as a key component of reform efforts.
In address this need, the World Bank, in partnership with a growing number of utility regulatory institutions from OECD and non-OECD countries, other multilateral organizations, and universities, is seeking to improve the exchange of information on infrastructure reforms and utility regulation, encourage policy debate among various stakeholder groups, and expand opportunities for professional training. To facilitate these goals, the International Forum for Utility Regulation (IFUR) was established on an informal and voluntary basis to serve as both umbrella and catalyst for these initiatives.
What's New:
Regulation of Entry in Infrastructure
A new topic in the Rapid Response Papers and Links database, featuring 32 papers and links on alternative forms of infrastructure service provision, including the role of small-scale private providers in offering complementary services to those provided by traditional large public, or privately franchised, utilities.
A new topic in the Rapid Response Papers and Links database, featuring 31 papers and links on on targeting private provision of infrastructure toward the specific needs of poor, and often marginalized, communities.
A collection of eight papers in the Rapid Response site on the performance of rural private infrastructure projects in Gabon, Namibia, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guatemala, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
This online journal on public policy innovations for private-sector led and market-based solutions for development is now conveniently located at the Rapid Response website.
Forum Activities
In response to discussions with utility regulators, government policy-makers, private infrastructure companies, and other multilateral organizations, the Forum sponsors the following activities:
International Training Course on Utility Regulation and Strategy
The World Bank in collaboration with the Public Utility Research Center (PURC) at the University of Florida has developed a two-week training program for senior- and mid-level utility regulators (electricity, gas, telecommunications, and water) from OECD and non-OECD countries as well as regulatory strategy managers from private infrastructure companies. To date over 600 regulators from 85 countries have attended this training. The course is designed to enhance the economic and strategic skills of participants in the following areas: market structure reform, financial techniques, methods of incentive regulation, quality and environment regulation, competition in network industries, strategic negotiation and regulatory decision making. Currently the course is offered twice a year in January and June. See the web page for the course overview. For application information, please contact PURC at the University of Florida at 352/392-6148 (tel), 352/392-7796 (fax) or by email. Questions may be directed either to PURC or to Penelope Brook at the World Bank.
In addition to the training course, PURC sponsors INFRAREG, a free Internet-based discussion group, to facilitate international discussion about utility regulation and strategy. This site may be of particular interest to utility regulators, policymakers, consultants, and academics as well as to industry regulatory specialists. To subscribe or for further information, please contact the PURC International Utility Regulation Mailing List.
Directories
The privatization of utility services is a complex undertaking for both public and private sector participants. Governments face a challenging agenda of transforming incentives and institutional arrangements; private providers face an array of issues which make project returns uncertain and raise project risks. IFUR has compiled the following directories to facilitate an exchange of information and to serve as a starting point for establishing contact among parties who are interested in utility regulation.
To request a printed copy of either Directory, or further information, please contact IFUR@Worldbank.org.
- International Directory of Utility Regulatory Institutions
This Directory lists addresses and brief descriptions of nearly 800 regulatory institutions in over 180 countries. The Directory exists both as a printed book and as an on-line database.
- International Directory of Regulatory Strategy Departments in Private Infrastructure Companies
This is a listing of ca. 100 major private infrastructure companies along with the contact information for their regulatory strategy departments. This publication is also available in both printed and on-line formats.
Partnership with Regional Initiatives
The Forum complements ongoing regional initiatives aimed at fostering cooperation and exchange on utility regulation, including in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
The South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulation (SAFIR) was formed in May 1999 by infrastructure regulators from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAFIR is designed to assist in the building of regulatory capacity in the electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and transport sectors.SAFIR programs will include a Core Training Course for regulators and their staff, an Information Center that will provide centralized dissemination of information relevant to infrastructure regulation (including a Help Desk), various conferences, workshops, and seminars, support of basic research in regulatory economics, and other initiatives that will contribute to the strengthening of regulatory capacity in the region. Please see the SAFIR website http://www.safir.teri.res.in/
For further information on IFUR, please contact the IFUR hotline at 202/473-6566 (tel), 202/522-2029 (fax) or at IFUR@Worldbank.org.
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