Risk Management in Government-Private Collaboration Building Construction Projects in Iraq

Abstract

The collaboration between the governmental and private industries has garnered significant consideration from governments, organizations, and study institutions globally, as it has become evident that social and economic growth relies on the mobilization and integration of all societal capabilities, encompassing the energies, assets, and knowledge of both industries. In countries that are developing, particularly Iraq, the notion of government-private collaboration is relatively novel to the government, which has traditionally borne the majority of the responsibility for delivering public services and undertaking substantial construction projects.

The purpose of this research was intended to examine the influence of risk management techniques on the achievement of government-private collaboration projects in Iraq by determining the most significant and frequent risk variables affecting the performance of Iraqi construction operations, where the survey population was primarily composed of civil engineers, comprising 70% of the respondents. 

Furthermore, 65% of the study population is currently engaged in government-private collaboration projects, while 35% have previously been involved in government-private collaboration projects. The study utilized questionnaires distributed to real companies and individuals at the southern provinces of Iraq from specialists working in various engineering fields to identify the most significant risk variables and propose suitable strategies for their management. Results from both quantitative and qualitative analyses show that technical, economical, and political support and credibility risk variables are significantly related to the achievement of government-private collaboration projects in Iraq. In contrast, social reliability and ecological effects did not show a statistically substantial relationship with the accomplishment of the project.

The study determined that among the four risk types affecting the achievement of government-private collaboration projects in Iraq, the component of governmental acceptance and credibility exerted the most significant influence, ranking as the primary risk factor. This was subsequently followed by the economic and financial variable, subsequently the technical variable, and lastly, the societal and ecological variable.

The research ultimately advises government-private collaboration project managers to ensure sufficient supervision of the risks encountered, which encompass risk transfer, preventive measures, mitigation, and acceptability. Additionally, it recommends conducting training sessions on risk management and offering informal education through professional development offerings to enhance understanding of risk management and its implementation in government-private collaboration projects.