Towards A Sustainable Engineering of Community Infrastructure (SEI): Theoretical Foundations, Conceptual Framework and Applications to the Beninese Context
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The sustainability of community infrastructure is a major strategic challenge in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where public investment in public facilities does not always translate into a lasting improvement in public services. Despite intensified infrastructure investment programs, many facilities suffer from premature deterioration, poor functionality, and a lack of planned maintenance.
This article proposes the formalization of an integrated theoretical framework entitled "Engineering for the Sustainability of Community Infrastructures" (EIC). This framework aims to overcome the fragmentation of sectorial approaches (civil engineering, infrastructure economics, urban planning, and governance) by offering a systemic reading of the life cycle of community infrastructure.
The methodology is based on a structured critical review of the international literature on asset management, urban resilience and territorial governance, supplemented by the synthesis of empirical work carried out in Benin (Nikki, Porto-Novo), in particular through tools such as the Global Sustainability Index (GSI) and multi-criteria decision support matrices.
The results show that the sustainability of community infrastructure depends less on the initial quality of construction than on the quality of its governance throughout its entire lifecycle. The article proposes an integrated conceptual model based on six dimensions of sustainability and a dynamic infrastructure management cycle.
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