Risk management practices and project performance: Evidence from Tanzania’s standard gauge railway lot one, Dar es Salaam to Morogoro

This study evaluated the effectiveness of risk management practices on the performance of government projects in Tanzania, with a focus on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Specifically, it examined how risk mitigation practices affected SGR performance. The study also assessed the influence of risk monitoring and evaluation practices on SGR performance in Tanzania. Guided by contingency theory, it employed a case study design and a mixed-methods approach. The sample included 72 purposively sampled respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent content analysis. Findings showed that effective risk management practices adopted by the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project Lot One in Tanzania significantly enhanced project performance, leading to better quality, cost savings, and on-time completion, with a mean score above the average, ranging between 4.04 and 4.23 out of 5.0, among the effects of risk monitoring and evaluation practices and the effects of risk mitigation practices. The study concluded that proper risk management is vital for the successful execution of projects. Recommendations for the TRC to invest in ongoing training, develop a comprehensive risk management framework, and establish regular monitoring and evaluation processes. The study also emphasized the importance of strengthening communication among stakeholders and involving external experts for high-risk projects.