A Hybrid RII-AHP Framework for Prioritizing Stakeholder Engagement in Transportation Infrastructure Projects: A Case Study of Nepal's Federal Road Sector
Abstract
Effective stakeholder engagement is critical for the successful delivery of transportation infrastructure projects, yet many government agencies lack structured frameworks for prioritizing engagement activities. This study develops a practical Stakeholder Engagement and Environmental and Social (E&S) Disclosure Framework for federal road projects in Nepal. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines the Relative Importance Index (RII) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize framework components based on input from 30 construction professionals and 16 experts. RII analysis reveals that Regular Public Consultation and Feedback Collection (RII = 0.773) and Timely Information Disclosure (RII = 0.733) are the highest-priority framework components. AHP analysis demonstrates that Timely Information Disclosure vs. Grievance Redress carries the highest decision weight (37.7%), indicating that stakeholders view information transparency and dispute resolution as the most critical governance functions. The proposed framework provides a replicable tool for transportation agencies in developing countries seeking to institutionalize stakeholder engagement practices.