Exploring the early lifecycle risk factors – Project dimensions – Resilience nexus in water infrastructure projects in small island developing states

The combined effects of rapid urbanisation, increased population and climate change are putting an increasing stress on the water sector globally. Although the early lifecycle stages (ELS) of water infrastructure projects provide significant scope for improving resilience to achieve SDG targets, these phases are also fraught with various risks that can have severe consequences. However, there is still a paucity of research on the impacts of risks on key project management dimensions and ultimately resilience, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This study thus aims to bridge this research gap by identifying risk factors and their associated impacts at the planning, design and procurement phases before developing a resilience framework applicable to ELS of water sector projects in SIDS. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of fourteen (14) project professionals was adopted. Thematic analysis was then used to identify seventeen important risk factors affecting the resilience dimensions of water infrastructure in the ELS. The three most prevalent risks were late clearances from authorities, inadequate design for climate change and lack of experienced local contractors for the planning, design and procurement phases respectively. The study also revealed that while lack of expertise and inadequate resource allocation are risks that are prevalent across the three stages, other risks have higher importance during specific phases. Along this line, stakeholder management issues are critical during the planning phase whereas technical and management issues warrant particular attention during the design and procurement phases. The conceptual frameworks developed for each project phase can support practitioners in achieving greater water infrastructure resilience in SIDS by providing a checklist for undertaking risk assessment and guiding project decision-making processes in the ELS.