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Research Article

Mapping Procurement and Delivery Models in Belt and Road Initiative Infrastructure Projects: A Typological Analysis of West Africa

Authors

  • Victor Oladoyin Shodipo Sustainability Operation Initiative for Africa (SOI-AFRICA), Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8330-9816

    shodipovictor100@gmail.com

  • Ogooluwa Philip Ojo Sustainability Operation Initiative for Africa (SOI-AFRICA), Nigeria
  • Olayinka Victoria Shodipo Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

Abstract

The Belt and Road initiative has become a principal source of infrastructure financing across West Africa. While substantial research exists on its geopolitical and macroeconomic dimensions, a systematic understanding of the operational mechanisms of its project delivery remains underdeveloped. This study addresses this gap by conducting a descriptive, typological analysis of both the procurement and delivery models governing major BRI infrastructure projects in West Africa. Through a documentary analysis of nine high-value transport and energy projects across four West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone. This research identifies, catalogues, and categorizes the predominant contractual structures. The findings reveal a pronounced dual hegemony:  the Direct Contracting (Sovereign Loan-Financed) Contract as the dominant procurement model, paired almost universally with the Engineering, procurement, and Construction (EPC) turnkey model. The findings reveal a pronounced dual hegemony: the Direct Contracting (Sovereign Loan-Financed) Contract as the dominant procurement model, paired almost universally with the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) turnkey model. This paper concludes by presenting a definitive typology of BRI project execution in the region, arguing that this specific pairing constitutes a standardized template that prioritizes speed, control, and supply-chain dominance for Chinese entities, while transferring significant financial liability to host governments. The typology also provides a critical framework for future comparative research on project outcomes.

Keywords:

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Procurement Models Project Delivery Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

Article information

Journal

Journal of Management, and Development Research

Volume (Issue)

2(2), (2025)

Pages

71-76

Published

05-10-2025

How to Cite

Shodipo, V. O., Ojo, O. P., & Shodipo, O. V. (2025). Mapping Procurement and Delivery Models in Belt and Road Initiative Infrastructure Projects: A Typological Analysis of West Africa. Journal of Management, and Development Research, 2(2), 71-76. https://doi.org/10.69739/jmdr.v2i2.955

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