Understanding Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Processes Using Eight (8) Field-Based Case Studies

These case studies are not written as success stories, which are more typical in international development. The purpose of these case studies is to showcase the complex, iterative processes that are typically used while exploring, formulating and implementing these partnerships. These case studies present the narrative story of the partnership from a process perspective, including different external events or internal changes that resulted in challenges or bottlenecks in the process and impacted the partnership's progress and planned outcomes.

These case studies are to be used by any individual in USAID, private sector, or implementing partner who is trying to understand how to effectively establish and implement such partnerships. These case studies can be used for training and learning purposes.

They help the readers understand that PSE is not a 'one-size-fits-all' model. These case studies show that there are different ways to engage the PS in development, different models for operationalizing them, PS can play different roles and have different levels of involvement in them, and that these partnerships are dynamic, complex systems that require enough time, resources and monitoring to keep them on track for planned progress. These case studies showcase how USAID’s PSE Lifecycle is operationalized by Missions, PS and other partners. They are context-specific, but still show processes that can be replicated. We recommend that these case studies be used to understand the nuances of PSE and complement them with other tools and frameworks developed as part of this research.