Country context (P3 lens)

Comoros is a low-income island country in the Indian Ocean with significant infrastructure gaps and limited fiscal capacity. P3s are very limited but are increasingly considered to mobilize private capital, improve service delivery, and transfer operational risk, particularly in transport, energy, and urban services. Multilateral development institutions often play a central role in project preparation, financing, and risk mitigation.

Verified sources: World Bank PPP Knowledge Lab, African Development Bank (AfDB), IMF, OECD.

Economic and infrastructure conditions

• Economy: Agriculture- and fishing-based, with small-scale trade and tourism; limited government revenue constrains large-scale infrastructure investment.

• Infrastructure priorities:

  • Roads, bridges, and ports

  • Electricity generation, often from renewables or hybrid systems

  • Water supply, sanitation, and municipal services

  • Social infrastructure (hospitals, schools)

• Private sector: Small and emerging; regional or international investors participate mostly in donor-supported projects.

Revenue-generating or donor-supported projects are the most viable P3s due to fiscal constraints.

Public Private Partnerships framework

Legal and institutional setup

• Comoros has a P3/concession legal framework, overseen by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Works.

• Project approval requires feasibility studies, fiscal risk assessment, and government approval, often with multilateral advisory support.

• Common P3 structures:

  • Concessions for transport and energy projects

  • Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) for roads, ports, and energy

  • Service or management contracts for urban utilities and social infrastructure

Market characteristics

• P3 activity is very limited, with few completed projects.

• Multilateral institutions (AfDB, World Bank) provide technical assistance, financing, and guarantees.

• Projects are generally selected for predictable revenue streams or donor-backed support.

Sector experience and opportunities

Transport

• Small-scale road, bridge, and port concessions are the primary P3 opportunities.

• Inter-island transport projects are extremely limited.

Energy

• Private participation mostly in small renewable or hybrid energy projects under BOT arrangements.

• Transmission and distribution remain largely public.

Water and municipal services

• Pilot service contracts for water supply and sanitation may be feasible in urban areas.

Social infrastructure

• Hospitals and schools delivered through P3s are rare and typically donor-supported.

Key P3 considerations

• Fiscal risk management: Critical due to limited government revenue.

• Institutional capacity: Project preparation and contract management are limited; multilateral support is essential.

• Market depth: Very small domestic investor base; regional and international players dominate.

• Project selection: Focus on donor-supported or revenue-generating projects for bankability.

Outlook

Comoros is a very early-stage P3 market:

• Limited to small-scale, revenue-generating, or donor-supported projects

• Focus sectors: transport, energy, and municipal services

• Multilateral involvement is essential for project preparation, financing, and risk mitigation

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