Adewale, A. A.; Jibril, I. U. (2026). Application of Earned Value Analysis in Appraising Rural Development Projects: Evidence from Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Cities and Built Environment, 04(02), 32-67. Retrieved from http://jscbe.ku.edu.bh
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58757/jscbe.04.02.02
Publisher: [KU] Kingdom University

Abstract:
Long-lasting overruns in costs and timeframes in Nigeria undermine the resilience of infrastructure developments in rural sub-Saharan Africa and it is a threat to the sustainability of built environment assets along the urban-rural range. This paper uses Earned Value Analysis (EVA) to estimate the performance of nine rural development projects in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, quantitatively by determining and ranking governance and management drivers of project success to inform sustainable built environment policy and assist in informing the new discourse on institutional capacity of infrastructure delivery in developing contexts. A sequential explanatory mixed methodology was used. A high level of variation was experienced between road works (mean CPI=0.68) and water schemes (mean CPI=0.78). Infrastructure sustainability in rural Nigeria is pegged on governance and specifically the local authority level. The dysfunctional aspect of the paradoxical negative outcome of monitoring is a sign of systemic malfunction that is bursting of corruption, technical tools deficit and the adoption of ineffective oversight policies. The paper recommended improvement in policy and practice through empowerment of local government in institutions, re-engineering monitoring and evaluation among others.