The Government of Zanzibar identified public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a means of developing infrastructure to meet increasing demand for public services within the constraints on government budgets. The government asked the World Bank for assistance in developing a policy and institutional framework for encouraging private participation in infrastructure development.

The World Bank engaged Nathan to develop a national PPP policy and operational guidelines, review gaps in existing laws and regulations, provide training on PPP-relevant issues, and assess potential PPP projects.