Assessing the public-private partnership handover: Experience from China's water sector

Most infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs) are returned to the government once the contract term expires. Before the handover, a preparatory period, known as the "handover stage (HS)," is needed to determine whether the project is fit for handover. However, to date, no means to assess the performance status of the handover management has been established. This study addresses this practical demand by establishing a definition of handover success and identifying and evaluating criteria for the measurement of handover success, which contributes to a better understanding of HS management.