I first discovered the CP³P certification when, in anticipation of business resulting from Saudi Arabia’s recently announced Privatization Program, I was asked to conduct some PPP training workshops for my corporate banking colleagues. Initially the PPP Guide helped me to step back and focus on the fundamental questions which those new to PPPs would be likely to ask.
Having been in the banking industry for several years, it has struck me how project finance is an area for which there are comparatively few courses and textbooks, and certainly no globally coordinated credential such as this whose curriculum consolidates many of the required skills and specialist knowledge. Practitioners tend to come from diverse professional backgrounds and disciplines and, at least in my experience, they tend to learn on the job or in an unstructured way. I believe the CP³P credential goes a considerable way to plugging this gap.
For veterans, the PPP Guide cites a comprehensive wealth of publicly available global guidance and relevant case studies, not all of which will be familiar. Personally, the course raised my awareness of the public sector perspective such as the importance of a proper regulatory framework, stakeholder engagement, and achievement of value-for-money. These aspects became especially relevant to me because while taking the exams I transitioned from a private sector banking role into government advisory.
Besides the satisfaction of being one of the first to have gained all three certificates, one of the key benefits will be applying and disseminating concepts and principles behind successful PPPs in the confidence that these are shared and endorsed by other world experts. Hopefully this common ground will result in more productive discussions and outcomes, and be a catalyst for knowledge sharing and capacity building, particularly useful here in Saudi Arabia where the PPP journey is just beginning.
Christopher Nixon, Director, Advisory
National Center for Privatization & PPP
Saudi Arabia
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christopher is an internationally experienced infrastructure & project finance professional based in Saudi Arabia with a background in originating, arranging & advising on specialized financial and funding solutions for large-scale projects, PPPs, concessions, joint ventures, top-tier corporates and state-owned enterprises. In his current role with Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Privatization & PPP he provides strategic advice and support to government sectors targeted for privatization, identifying potential opportunities, ensuring project technical and financial readiness, and guiding transactions from concept through to structuring, tendering and execution.