Assessment ON Causes OF Public Project Failure: The CASE OF Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study tried to assess causes for failure of public projects in Ethiopia particularly in Jimma Zone. The study used descriptive research design and qualitative research approach and simple random sampling in determining the representative sample size of the target population. The data was collected from the respondents through questionnaire and semi-structured interview and analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequencies and also Pearson correlations utilized to examine the association among the variables. The study identified five categories of factors as administrative, political, natural, technical and economical factors which might have a significant contribution to the failure of public projects in Jimma Zone. Five major factors were assessed such as corruption, political interference, weather change, design change and change in economic environment and these independent variables were examined and identified as major findings of the study. The results were discussed and interpreted and finally the study recommended to the concerned government organs as, making the bid competition free from corruption and transparent and strengthening accountability, making selection criteria based on competency and also adding previous performance to the criteria to win another project, establishing project committee by their project related profession rather than political position considering harsh seasons while setting project time schedule, closely evaluating the design of the project by different professionals and developing long lasting design before implementation and to reduce the economic impact, establishing public shops which can supply raw materials with minimum price to public projects.