An Integrated Framework to Improve Public Involvement in Public-Private Partnerships: Aligning Participatory Modes With Informational Needs in PPPs

While prior literature has explored how different participation modalities can align with pre-specified goals in public involvement programs, research is needed on how configurations of participation modalities can address informational goals that are unique to PPPs. This study addresses this need by integrating insights from the literatures on PPPs and on public involvement to develop a theoretical framework. This study underscores the importance of ensuring public consultation before design options are finalized and emphasizes the potential of virtual public involvement (VPI) tools to educate citizens and gain their perspectives on PPPs. Emerging and established tools in digital engagement thus offer great promise for meeting the informational needs of PPPs, yet traditional in-person consultations remain essential for achieving the community agreement needed to align projects with local preferences. VPI tools can also improve citizen exposure to project components, yet many present more opportunities for conveying technical details than financial ones.