The SDG Fund, established by the United Nations in 2014, is a mechanism for supporting sustainable development activities through collaborative, multi-dimensional programs. Your country was among the initial recipients of this fund and implemented projects aligned with SDG 6. These projects were financed based on recommendations from project appraisal reports. However, a recent evaluation found that these projects had a success rate of only 40% and incurred significant cost overruns. As a result, the UN has initiated an audit of all the projects.

a) As a consultant for the SDG Fund, what specific areas will you focus on when reviewing and evaluating the project appraisal system of these projects and what recommendations will you provide for improvement? (10 Marks)

b) Explain the project control measures that you would recommend to prevent cost overruns in a construction project, given that cost is a critical aspect of such projects?