International Development Projects Research Articles

The Project Book: A Toolkit for Stakeholder Management in International Development Projects

This article presents a methodology of management of International Development Projects designed for offshoring agents that, on a traditional project management basis (phases and processes), adds an open documentary system (Project Book) and the application of participatory action research techniques. The Project Book enhances transparency and therefore confidence and engagement. Participatory action research techniques support intercultural management of the projects’ stakeholders. The methodology has been tested in three cases of «health», «production», and «education sectors», executed in Colombia. The quality and success of the project after the application is characterized by an 80 % acceptance of the agents.

Crucial factors for decision-making in international real estate development projects: Evidence from Chinese developers

This study aims to investigate the crucial factors influencing decision-making in international real estate development projects. The identification of these factors was initially derived from a comprehensive literature review and further refined through expert input from Chinese real estate developers. Subsequently, questionnaires were administered to these experts in three focus groups. The key determinants for decision-making in international real estate development projects were identified as follows: political stability condition of the host country, international diplomatic relations between the host and home country, macro-economic situation of the host country, maturity of real estate market in the host country, project financing, and international experience of the enterprise. The most significant categories encompassed political, economic, and project factors. This study addresses the scarcity of literature on international real estate development, with a specific focus on developers originating from developing nations. It has the potential to enrich the discourse surrounding international real estate practices and contribute valuable insights for future academic investigations.

Exploring factors influencing the microfinance program sustainability

Ensuring the sustainability of development interventions such as microfinance programs is essential for making sure that the financial access is available for the poor in long term. However, many project-based microfinance have faced sustainability issues. Therefore, exploring the factors affecting the sustainability of the programs is essential. Using institutionalist view of microfinance sustainability and considering project implementation aspects, this study aims to explore the factors that influence the sustainability of project-based microfinance institutions (MFIs). Quantitative approach by using a statistical tool is used to analyse the survey of the 85 microfinance bankers from 65 Microfinance institutions (MFIs). The result showed that project-based microfinance sustainability is influenced by local project characteristics, community support and project management. It implies that project implementation and its sustainability is concomitant. Project implementation that considers local community and is supported by project management could hold an important role in the sustainability of the project. Furthermore, developing sustainability strategies in planning and implementation stages is crucial. Hence, international development project actors should take them into account.

International higher education as knowledge diplomacy: The role of Chinese universities in China’s belt and road initiative

As an important player in China’s international relations, Chinese universities have been actively involved in China’s international development projects along China’s “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” routes. In this study, three Chinese universities are invited to share their collaborative education projects with three developing regions of the world: Central Asia, South East Asia and Africa. Using knowledge diplomacy as a theoretical lens to examine the three cases, this study aims to describe and evaluate the role of Chinese universities in the BRI programs in meeting the urgent talent needs of key infrastructure and energy industries in the global south. Through these three cases, the study also aims to shed light on China’s economic goals in international education that are currently absent in policy documents and academic literature.

Knowledge based interventions for sustainable development cooperation: insights from knowledge systems mapping in Zambia

Knowledge is an essential determinant and component of the international development cooperation agenda and projects. Therefore, it is vital to understand and reflect on how knowledge in international development cooperation is created, what knowledge counts, and how it influences the planning, implementation, and outcomes of international development cooperation projects. In this paper, we critically examine the knowledge system of the development cooperation of the Czech Republic, an emerging donor country, by applying system theory and utilizing system properties as an analytical tool. To this end, we carried out a multi-phase qualitative research with actors from the Czech Republic and Zambia. Subsequently, we analysed the knowledge system properties and identified those often overlooked by development actors, such as taboos, mistrust, and development burden, revealing how knowledge flows can be obstructed by these characteristics. In addition, we compiled a set of suitable interventions to tackle the overlooked system properties and foster knowledge cross-fertilisation. These interventions include, among others, active engagement of traditional leaders, active work with narratives of success, and introducing action-reflection-reaction cycle into the development practice. Furthermore, the proposed interventions clearly emphasize the need for more collaborative and transdisciplinary processes. Finally, we discuss that it is essential to uncover deep layers of the international development cooperation knowledge system to shift and leverage it towards more inclusive and just outcomes.

Complexity-aware principles for agri-food system interventions: Lessons from project encounters with complexity

CONTEXTComplexity has long been recognised as a key feature of agri-food systems. Yet, it remains largely theoretical or poorly addressed in practice, hampering the potential of international development projects to address agriculture and food-related challenges in the Global South. OBJECTIVEThe paper identifies and examines six sources of complexity that can manifest in projects, namely: unpredictability; path dependencies; context-specific dynamics; power relations; multiple temporal and spatial scales. It then proposes and tests six agri-food system principles that could be drawn upon to more successfully navigate this complexity. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how these principles could help projects respond to the changing circumstances and unpredictable turns of agri-food systems contexts in a different way, which flexibly embraces complexity. This flexibility is essential in an age of uncertainty and transformation. METHODSComparative case study analysis of six projects implemented by the CGIAR: aflatoxin control in groundnuts in Malawi (1), pigeonpea in Eastern and Southern Africa (2), sorghum beer in Kenya (3), sweet sorghum for biofuel in India (4), precooked beans in Uganda and Kenya (5), Smart Foods in India and Eastern Africa (6). The projects aimed to either increasing smallholder farmers' incomes or addressing food and nutrition security, or both. They were specifically selected as all they were affected by some of the sources of complexity, which hampered the projects to different extents. This makes the cases relevant for not only illustrating manifestations of complexity, but also help reflect on alternative strategies to tackle it. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe analysis of the case studies reveals how complexity can frustrate objectives of development interventions under several aspects. It also serves to discuss how complexity can be more successfully navigated (within but also beyond the selected cases) by applying the set of proposed agri-food system principles. The principles are also presented as ways future interventions could avoid clinging to what is “known to work” and instead venture into more powerful pathways of change. SIGNIFICANCEThe following complexity-aware principle are proposed: Welcome surprises and openly discuss trade-offs; Shun orthodoxies; Engage with context-specificity; Expose patterns of power; Embrace the lengthy nature of change; Understand the multi-scale (in terms of space and time) nature of agri-food systems contexts. These principles could be used by project designers and implementors to cope with the complexity and uncertainty that will inevitably be encountered in agri-food system interventions, and can no longer be ignored.

Organizational learning capacity and international development project success in West Africa: A case study

Very few studies have focused on organizational learning within a team as a key success factor for international development projects. In particular, the relationship between organizational learning capacity, organizational efficacy, and project success has received little attention. This is the objective of this case study. It explores this relationship based on 23 semi-structured interviews with project coordinators, team members, and beneficiaries of two projects financed by the West African Development Bank (WADB) in Benin and Senegal. The results show that the social process of developing organizational learning capacity within a project team is a crucial issue for organizational efficacy and project success. Points for practitioners Within a team, establishing a framework for developing organizational learning capacity, characterized by autonomy, experimentation, and interaction with stakeholders, is a key project success factor. Flexible and adaptive approaches may foster organizational learning and help explore, through action, new project capacities. Such approaches may help increase the odds of project success in terms of international development and, thus, create value for stakeholders including beneficiaries.

Designing a platform/adaptive randomised controlled trial for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) - The PAEDIS international platform trial development project.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common health problem. There are several technologies, medications, and interventions that aim to improve or treat PAD in people with symptomatic disease. Most of these technologies, however, have been untested in high-quality randomised studies assessing effectiveness and their interactions remain unknown. We developed a proposed design for an international randomised controlled trial assessing multiple PAD treatments. Over the course of 11 months (2023) several workshops and reviews of the literature took place. More specific, the proposed platform trial was designed with 44 people with PAD and 112 experts from across the world, in five work packages. The most relevant PAD treatment with unproven effectiveness were identified and key trial components as well as success criteria were defined. With input from five clinical trials units, the final format of a potential platform PAD trial in primary and secondary care was then proposed for funding. The proposed platform PAD randomised trial involved two major multi-arm multi-stage randomised studies, assessing PAD treatments in the community setting (1 st package) and then secondary care (2 nd package). The 1 st package involved people with claudication and the 2 nd package involves people with chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI). A platform PAD trial involves many challenges in terms of both design and delivery. The proposed design involving both people with claudication and CLTI will hopefully act as a blueprint for future work in this area.

Continuing to Put People First: Embedding community investment in the sustainability standards of international financial institutions

AbstractWe discuss environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in international development projects, especially those funded by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Their social safeguard policies were adopted because of neglect of social impacts by projects. Although development assistance goals have shifted from economic growth towards poverty reduction and shared prosperity, mitigating adverse impacts of projects does not necessarily address the multiple dimensions of poverty or the Sustainable Development Goals. ‘Do no harm’ has limited ability to achieve social development objectives. Instead, a significant contribution to international development could come by embedding community investment in the environmental and social frameworks of international financial institutions, and social impact assessment and international development practise. This would ensure that projects contribute to improving the lives of project affected peoples. We propose changes to the IFC Performance Standards that could be implemented by other multilateral development banks and in the Equator Principles.

Symbols of State: Explaining Prestige Projects in the Global South

Abstract Why do governments pursue flashy international development projects despite more basic material needs? I argue that economically questionable “prestige projects” can be politically useful for legitimacy-seeking governments of small states in the Global South. Prestige projects provide these governments with otherwise unavailable symbolic capital as well as a means for seeking international status. Using new data on China’s global development finance since 1949, I document nearly 400 prestige projects and show they are concentrated in developing countries with small economies that increase their support for China’s diplomatic interests. An illustrative case study of Costa Rica’s national stadium shows how host countries use prestige projects to acquire national symbolic capital and pursue status. Evidence from a survey experiment in Papua New Guinea further demonstrates that prestige projects are uniquely associated with the national government and status-seeking motives. The findings contribute to research on the political economy of foreign aid, international development, status-seeking, and Chinese development finance.

Resilient development impacts could be assessed: A case in Accra, Ghana

Urban projects featured with resilient development have become popular, whereas limited studies have been invested in evaluating the impacts of these projects. A debate exists, asking if these impacts could ever be captured and verified. This communication paper argues that project impacts could be demonstrated, by specifying (1) the relatable literature, measurements, and rational assessment criteria, (2) a confined assessment timeframe, and (3) available scientific data sources. The paper derives the assessment experiences of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID), supported by the World Bank, in view of the above argument. Through a mixed-methods approach with two waves of investigation, the assessment experiences successfully capture the pre-intervention indicators that GARID may lead. The assessment experiences also provide in-time recommendations toward GARID's implementation, advancing more inclusive stakeholder engagement. The fruitful results confirm the paper's argument. Meanwhile, having third parties to conduct impact assessments could uncover non-supervised project outcomes and challenges that typical official reports would not investigate. Encouraging commitments to impact assessments of international development projects like GARID would help southern cities move toward inclusive prosperity.

Beneficiary participation is an imperative, not an option, but does it really work in international development projects?

Beneficiary engagement – external “nonmarket” stakeholder engagement in international development settings – can empower end-users to achieve project success. But we do not know what level of it (involvement/participation) influences short (project management success) and long-term project success (project impact). We examine the influence of beneficiary engagement levels on project success dimensions through stakeholders’ perceptions. Based on a quantitative analysis of 154 projects, we show both beneficiary involvement and beneficiary participation positively influence short and long-term project success. We find project characteristics such as beneficiary inputs do not significantly influence beneficiary engagement, but implementation context including beneficiary trust in project governance does. While some of these findings appear unexpected, they add to external stakeholder engagement literature, especially in low-and middle-income countries. We suggest a “one-size-fits-all” approach prevails in beneficiary engagement practice. Since beneficiary engagement is no longer an option, but an obligation, supervisors and managers should focus on increasing its beneficial impact.

국제개발 프로젝트의 사업기간 편차와 그 원인 분석

Completing international development projects within the planned timeframe is a task of great significance of the implementation of development projects. This paper analyzed the extent of delays and the factors contributing to delays with respect to 226 development projects in the construction sector across 19 countries financed by one of multi-lateral development banks. It was confirmed that delays are relatively more prevalent in the initial phases including loan approval, signing a loan agreement, consultant recruitment, detailed design, and contractor selection than in the later phases of physical construction in earnest. The analysis of factors contributing to delays found that the extent of delays was shorter in the case of better governance of recipient countries, but had no significant relationship with economic situations of recipient countries. Among variables of project characteristics, the extent of delays was greater in the case of a shorter planned project duration and a larger amount of planned project costs. This study differs from previous papers in that it categorized the delay factors with project documents and analyzed the determinants of delay through statistical analysis.

What do Private Companies Prioritise When Implementing International Development Projects? Evidence from Four Central and Eastern European Donors

As donors channel more of their development assistance through private companies, a discussion is growing on what this shift means for international development. This paper focuses on four Central European donors, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, who have recently implemented new incentives to promote the greater engagement of the private sector in their international development programmes. The paper uses new survey data of project managers at organisations implementing aid projects funded by these four donors to explore how private actors differ in their approaches to aid implementation. The analysis reveals that the type of implementing organisation does not affect their focus on internal project goals (budget, schedule, and scope), but project managers at private firms consider long-term impact and economic sustainability of the project less important. These findings support claims that for-profit organisations exercise a short-term approach to satisfy funders, but lack a deeper focus on long-term development.

The Impact of Project Management Tools on Project Results: Evaluation of a Survey Among Managers Leading International Development Projects for four selected Central and Eastern European Donors

Abstract As the success rate of international development projects might be still below expectations, several studies have explored whether and how the use of project management (PM) tools might improve internal and external project performance. This article looks specifically at four selected Central and Eastern European countries and evaluates a newly collected data set. Based on a survey, the study examines the adoption of PM tools among project managers in the region. Furthermore, with the use of cluster analysis, it suggests that the tools are adopted progressively in four stages that differ culturally from other international studies. Last but not least, using structural equation modelling, the research indicates that among the surveyed project managers, the use of stage 1 tools might directly contribute to the improvement of internal project results and that these internal results might then have a positive impact also on the external project performance.

The effect of humble leadership on the success of international development projects: the mediating role of organizational learning

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of humble leadership on project success. In addition, we examine the mediating effect of organisational learning on the relationship between humble leadership and the success of international development projects.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative research methodology based on questionnaire data collected from 80 international development project managers from different sectors in Senegal (West Africa). The variance-based structural equation method, following the partial least squares approach, was used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed that humble leadership is positively related to project success. Furthermore, organizational learning mediates the relationship between humble leadership and project success.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has several limitations. The authors did not examine the role of organizational culture as a moderating variable. However, the authors believe that the cultural variable can have an impact on project success and team building, and future studies should consider this aspect as well. In the African context, each country has its own culture, which may affect the behaviour of the project manager. Also, the authors admit that the sample size is relatively small, which greatly reduces the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications. First, because a project leader’s humility enhances project success, it is critical for development projects to select leaders who demonstrate modest conduct in the workplace. The perfect selection of a humble leader depends heavily on judgements about the characteristics of a humble leader from new project manager candidates.Originality/valueDrawing on conservation of resources theory, this study found that humble leadership is important for project success, thus extending the utility of the concept of humble leadership to the project literature.

Finding the Interrelation between Smart City Initiatives and International Development Cooperation: A Critical Analysis of Current Project Processes and Underlying Motivations

This paper aims to explore the interplay between smart city projects and international development cooperation initiatives while identifying potential challenges associated with their ongoing processes. Numerous studies have investigated the potential economic development opportunities through smart city initiatives at the local level. This paper contributes to existing literature by examining the convergence of smart city and international development projects, providing a comprehensive perspective on these projects in terms of governance, motivation, financing, and inclusivity. This research includes a critical assessment of these projects, with the hope that both communities can actively engage in dialogue and cooperation to share their shortcomings and successful experiences, ultimately achieving a ‘smart’ balance in their development landscape.

Procurement practices in international development projects: trends, networks and performances

PurposeInternational development projects are a dominant means by which aid is distributed to countries. Over the past 70 years, the distribution of trillions of dollars of development aid has been mediated by the United Nations (UN). However, most of this aid has failed to deliver the expected outcomes for which it was assigned. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of projects can be considered successful. Despite the glaring question as to which factors contribute to the success or failure of projects, no study has comprehensively documented the relationship between procurement mechanisms invoked to deliver aid projects and project outcomes. This study aims to assess this relationship.Design/methodology/approachLeveraging network analysis methodology, this study examines the World Bank data set of over 247,000 developmental contracts worldwide granted over the past 20 years. It identifies the range of procurement practices used and interrogates their ability to deliver satisfactory project outcomes.FindingsEleven prevalent practices are identified covering aid projects across twelve sectors. As might be expected, Africa is the largest recipient of aid, while the Middle East is the least. Overwhelmingly, international competitive bidding (ICB) is the leading procurement procedure, both in terms of contract number and total dollar value. However, ICB does not always deliver the best outcomes, with other, more boutique approaches sometimes doing better.Social implicationsThe breadth of this study, encompassing such a vast data resource, and generating such a rich pool of findings will now empower researchers to take the next important step, which is to progress this study in exploring why it is that certain procurement strategies have worked for some sectors, but not others. Countries, financial institutions, the UN and construction enterprises alike will be very interested in the results.Originality/valueThe spectrum of outcomes identified will be of interest to academics and practitioners alike wishing to investigate further the drivers behind the results described here.

VISUAL AND GRAPHIC TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VALUES OF CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE

Purpose: To study the role of branding and design elements in the effective communication of the values of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 
 Methodology: The methods of observation, comparison, synthesis and generalization have been used to analyze the existing branding and design elements within the initiative, as well as to review official documents. Methods of formal, stylistic, compositional, and coloristic analysis have been used to analyze visual designs used by companies and organizations associated with the BRI.
 Results: The article analyzes the latest research that helps to determine the methods of using images, typography and color to effectively represent the cooperation and inclusiveness associated with the BRI, to implement successful communication of BRI values and promote the goals of the initiative. The features of the use of maps and networks, compasses, flags, and landmarks of transport infrastructure for communication within the BRI values are considered. The key design features that are often used in the visual media of BRI branding are identified. These include objects of communication and cooperation (maps, roads, and railways), as well as objects that symbolize the values of the cultures of the participating countries (flags, landmarks). It has been found that blue and gold colors are often used to denote stability and success in branding elements.
 Scientific novelty: Previous studies have focused mainly on the economic and political implications of BRI. Instead, the present study is the first to analyze branding and design elements in terms of communication effectiveness and their use to effectively communicate BRI values to a global audience. In addition, the study provides ideas for developing branding components for international development projects.
 Practical significance. This study has a number of practical implications for organizations and governments involved in BRI initiatives. The results of the study can be used to develop more effective branding and communication strategies to communicate the value of BRI to a global audience.

'I was like a one-man band': the theory and practice of national development experts' work at the messy-middle

Despite their importance to project outcomes, the work of individuals who occupy the meso-level of international development projects at the interfaces between an ever-growing number of actor groups is often poorly reflected on. Using four typically disparate bodies of literature (brokers and translators, street level bureaucracy, policy entrepreneurs, and institutional bricolage), I analyze how the work of national development experts (NDEs) at the meso-level influences how project intentions become social realities that reshape local lives. Normative and personal-professional motivations underpin NDEs' work at the messy-middle, encouraging them to work in a 'bottom-up' manner and to formally and informally create room for maneuver for all actors involved, drawing on relational skills and negotiating and utilizing multiple aspects of their individual identities. NDEs also work through conscious institutional bricolage, which they try to manage formally through contracts and informally through relationship-building, to integrate the project with the social environments in which it is being implemented. The analysis helps address key questions in existing meso-level actor literatures. It also shows that understanding meso-level work can facilitate improved understandings of how development projects move from intentions to social effects, which is a key concern for political ecology. I conclude by proposing that critical reflection could be a suitable methodology for assessing meso-level practice as it allows meso-level work to be discussed and learnt from without fully removing the spaces of informality and discretion that are vital to its success.