Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology for the prioritization of technical irrigation projects

Abstract

Public investment in irrigation infrastructure is essential but costly, especially in developing countries. This study analyzes methodologies for prioritizing irrigation projects in Ecuador, selecting the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) from various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Four criteria and 15 subcriteria were defined based on the judgment of 12 experts. From a shortlist of 10 irrigation projects, selected from the Ministry of Agriculture's database, we applied the AHP via the free software Super Decisions. Among the environmental, territorial development, economic, and technical criteria, territorial development holds the highest weight, reflecting significant differences in potential social impact across projects. Our results demonstrate how AHP can guide transparent, equity-focused investment decisions and support sustainable development goals (SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production) in Ecuador.