World Bank Port Reform Toolkit

Ports are undergoing constant transformation, induced by changes in the global economy, technology, or the environment. Port reform is influenced by factors that include aspirations for change underpinned by complex internal and external drivers. In a sector where public and private interests must work together, closely managing change is important. Having the right tools is key for a successful port reform and improvement process which enables economic growth, creates jobs, and fosters sustainable development. For over two decades, the Port Reform Toolkit has been one of the most comprehensive guides for implementing port reforms. Along the way, the Toolkit has evolved in response to changing sectoral trends. The first edition, published in 2001, established a common language for policymakers and port industry stakeholders. It has since become the established reference for port privatization, labor, and modernization programs. Further experiences from a first wave of port reforms in Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the 1990s and early 2000s informed the second edition of the Toolkit, which was released in 2007. By that time, ports in developing economies had attracted over 21 billion dollars in investments from over 200 public-private partnership projects. In this context, the Port Reform Toolkit enabled port stakeholders to provide strategic advice to governments and the private sector.