Assessment of PPP projects in the light of sustainability

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global standard of sustainable development priorities and goals at economic, social, and environmental levels. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in projects are increasingly gaining acceptance as an alternative to the traditional approaches of project funding based on public sources. PPP projects contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. Objective answers about investment alternatives can only be obtained by evaluating them from several perspectives and using several indicators rather than a single dominant one, i.e., by applying multi-criteria evaluation methods. The research problem stems from the diversity of impacts of PPP projects, the complexity of their identification, and the need for their comprehensive assessment. Research aim is to develop a methodology for assessment of PPP projects in the light of the SDGs and to empirically test this methodology. Research methods: synthesis of theoretical insights, situation modelling, logical analysis, case study, multi-criteria decision technique SAW (Simple Additive Weighting). The main outcome of the research is the development of a methodology for the assessment of PPP projects in relation to the implementation of the SDGs, which includes four main steps: analysing the objectives and expected outcomes of the projects under assessment; identifying the impact of the project on the implementation of the SDGs; determining the significance of the impact of the project on the implementation of the SDGs; and combining the assessment indicators into a single aggregated indicator. Based on the developed methodology, an empirical study was conducted to assess few PPP investment ideas and to select the most efficient investment option in terms of sustainability.