*2.2. SDGs in the Context of Infrastructure Projects in the Construction Sector*

Most of society's developments in recent times can be connected to infrastructure projects [19,20] and the UN recognise that the development of infrastructure represents a massive opportunity to stimulate economic prosperity, reduce poverty and raise standards in health, education and gender equality [21]. It is apparent that ameliorating many of the risks associated with grand challenges, such as climate change, can only be achieved through investment in appropriate and resilient infrastructure and engineering [22].

A growing area of research has been in the comparison of construction projects' impacts on sustainable development from different angles. For example, Shen et al. [23] highlighted the role of projects to impact across the triple bottom line of people, profit and planet [7–9]. In this regard, construction projects are acknowledged as making an impact on the economic and social development of nations. Increasingly, recognition is given that these dual aims of economic development and social development can be achieved in harmony and, indeed, provide competitive advantage for firms [24,25]. Other studies have delved deeper into the changing nature of how project sustainability has changed within the construction industry. For example, Edum-Fotwe and Price [26] highlighted the issues that affect the assessment of social factors of construction projects, which this article suggests can be combined with the environmental and economic requirements of projects.

Defining infrastructure project success is central to understanding how to link global-national level SDGs with local infrastructure projects because it allows stakeholders to align their expectations against shorter-term outputs as well as the longer-term outcomes and SDG impacts. More recent research into project success definition [27] has consistently identified benefits and outcomes as being a critical determinant for the assessment of project success. Considering the aforementioned literature, it is possible to synthesise the second proposition related to SDGs in the context of infrastructure projects in the construction sector as follows.

**Proposition 2 (P2).** *The definition of infrastructure project success should be viewed from a systemic perspective, where there is a broader consideration of the overall performance of the project.*
