From failure to success: exploring the influence of political leadership on public energy projects performance in Benin

Purpose The energy sector, a strategic and critical one to sustainable development in Africa, when continuing to attract attention from scholars and practitioners is challenged by well-structured and effectively managed projects. Public energy projects often fail to meet expectations and do not deliver value for money. While much of the existing project management literature emphasizes organizational and technical dimensions to explain project underperformance, limited attention has been paid to the role of political leadership in shaping major national projects behavior. This study explores how political leadership influences the performance of a public energy projects in Benin, a West African country. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative case study approach, it examines the evolution of the energy project under two successive administrations over a twenty-year period. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings The findings reveal that political leadership is a critical factor in improving project performance. In particular, a leadership gap in the governance of energy projects underscored the importance of renewed political leadership endowed with a clear strategic vision. This transition reshaped project implementation and delivery processes, enabling stronger alignment with national priorities and contributing to improved performance outcomes. The study highlights the importance of high-level leadership capabilities in enhancing public project performance in West Africa and offers insights into how political commitment and strategic vision can transform project outcomes. Originality/value This study shifts the analysis of public infrastructure project performance in Africa from technical and managerial factors to political leadership dynamics. By linking political leadership priorities to project outcomes, the study highlights political leadership as key success factor of project success in the African context.