Methodology

Methodology Changes were made to the PPI methodology in H1 2019. See summary of these changes (PDF)

What does the PPI Database record?

  • The database records contractual arrangements for public infrastructure projects in low- and middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) that have reached financial closure, in which private parties assume operating risks.
  • Projects included in the database do not have to be entirely privately owned, financed or operated. Some have public participation as well.
  • With few exceptions, the investment amounts in the database represent the total investment commitments entered into by the project entity at the beginning of the project (at contract signature or financial closure), not the planned or executed annual investments.
  • For projects that involve investments, the database figures reflect total project investments encompassing the shares attributable to both the private and the public parties.
  • The database draws its information exclusively from publicly available sources. This enables us to make the results publicly available, but carries the risk of inaccuracy depending on the reliability of sources used.

The database methodology is described in more detail below.