Joined-up Government of utilities: a meta-review on a public-public partnership and inter-municipal cooperation in the water and wastewater industries

Private-sector participation in public services delivery has been criticized due to unfulfilled expectations. In response, joined-up government is being introduced as an alternative approach to providing water and wastewater services. This approach involves the establishment of horizontal (i.e. inter-municipal cooperation) and vertical (i.e. public-public partnership) integration. Drawing on a meta-review focused on the water and wastewater industries, this study shows that both arrangements have positive aspects, such as cost savings. However, contractual schemes and inter-departmental coordination efforts must be carefully managed or they will fail. In addition, research on cooperation between public bodies is scarce and must be better coordinated concerning study aims and methods.