Evaluation and Development of the Criteria used in the selection of development projects for Infrastructure (road projects in Gaza City Municipality as a case study)

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed at the evaluation and development of the criteria and methods implemented at prioritizing the infrastructure development projects at Municipality of Gaza. This has been carried out to help administrators and decision makers in their future plans. In this context, strategic plans should be based on consistent criteria that offer the highest level of social justice where all residents have the right to benefit from the basic services offered by the Municipality. This has been achieved through implementing the descriptive analytic methodology. The study designed a questionnaire to find out the criteria that could be used in prioritizing the infrastructure development projects. The questionnaire targeted the engineers engaged in such projects. Population of the study was 400 engineers working in the local public and private sectors, and the study sample was 80 engineers who were randomly selected. The concluded criteria were then implemented on Municipality of Gaza through preparing another version of the questionnaire directed to 25 engineers. Those engineers work in the infrastructure development projects at the Municipality. This was intended to diagnose the current situation in this regard. Results firstly obtained from the public and private sector engineers who are engaged in the infrastructure development projects. Results showed that the most important criteria that should be considered in prioritizing the infrastructure development projects are the economic criteria. This is respectively followed by the following criteria: the development, technical, political and security; and finally social criteria. Results also showed that Municipality of Gaza is committed to the proposed criteria by 71.7% of its activities. The most considered criteria by the Municipality were the technical ones. This was respectively followed by the criteria related to funding policy, social context, and environmental requirements. Results also showed that the least considered criteria were the political and security criteria, in addition to the development and economic ones. The study recommended that Ministry of Governance and concerned municipalities should carry out studies to specify their standards in prioritizing the infrastructure development projects. These standards should be published to ensure transparency in the implementation of these standards.