Critical strategies for building urban community resilience through public-private partnerships: a system dynamics modelling

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are frequently recommended for strengthening urban community resilience; however, empirical evidence on how PPPs achieve this goal is limited. This study identifies and evaluates practical strategies through which PPPs can enhance the economic, social, and environmental resilience of urban communities. An international questionnaire survey was conducted among experts with experience in resilience and PPP practices. Forty-three valid responses were analysed using the Kendall coefficient of concordance and an ANOVA to assess consensus on the importance of strategy. A system dynamics model was then used to examine the impact of the strategies on PPP’s success in building urban community resilience. Employing highly skilled and competent workmanship in in-service operations emerged as the most influential strategy. Other critical strategies include the development of efficient communication and coordination policies, developing strong governance and institutional capacity, practising and simulating any preparedness actions and policies, and developing a practical business continuity plan for disaster-prone areas. The study translates broad recommendations into an evidence-based roadmap that governments and private operators can adopt when structuring PPPs for urban resilience. This is the first empirical study to link specific PPP strategies with measurable contributions to urban community resilience, providing actionable guidance for policy and practice.