Hierarchical clustering of factors causing site clearance bottlenecks in ODA-funded salinity intrusion mitigation infrastructure projects

Purpose Numerous infrastructure projects have been launched to address the challenges posed by climate change. In Vietnam, these projects are primarily financed through Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. However, during implementation, site clearance bottlenecks (SCBs) arise as major obstacles, undermining project efficiency and eroding national credibility. Design/methodology/approach This study identified 22 potential SCB factors through literature review and expert consultation, and surveyed 140 stakeholders using a structured questionnaire. The principal analysis tools were Cronbach's alpha, the Kruskal-Wallis test, hierarchical clustering, and mean-based assessment modeling. Findings Analysis results revealed financial issues, compensation prices, support policies, and document approvals as the most critical factors. There was strong consensus across many SCB factors, with both “financial constraints” and “unstable market conditions” consistently ranked by all stakeholder groups. Hierarchical clustering classified the 22 factors into four reliable groups, descendingly ranked in importance as: “financial and resettlement pressures”, “compensation and policy issues”, “institutional and administrative constraints”, and “procedural and contextual challenges”. Research limitations/implications The findings provide empirical evidence for understanding the dynamics of SCBs and establish a foundation for prioritizing SCB factors in infrastructure projects. Practical implications This study proposes practical strategies to reduce site clearance delays and improve the implementation efficiency of ODA-funded infrastructure projects. Originality/value This study makes a novel contribution by revealing project stakeholders' perceptions of key factors and introducing a validated clustering-based approach for assessing SCBs in ODA-funded public infrastructure projects aimed at salinity intrusion mitigation.