Multi expert and multi criteria evaluation of sectoral investments for sustainable development: An integrated fuzzy AHP, VIKOR / DEA methodology

The 2030 agenda for sustainable development calls for a holistic approach. It needs to tackle multidimensional aspects such as poverty, inequality, inclusivity, skill development to name a few. In this paper, a multi expert multi criteria decision making approach is adopted using fuzzy AHP, VIKOR and DEA. The weights of the criteria are determined using fuzzy AHP and it is found that basic amenities is the most important (0.21) followed by environmental concern (0.18). Fuzzy VIKOR early defuzzification is used to rank the various sectors based on the importance of sustainability criteria. Science & technology is ranked first followed by rural development. Considering the investment made in each sector, fuzzy AHP DEA indicates water resources, river development & environment lies in the frontier efficiency region. The DEA analysis reveals that basic amenities, environment concern and governance system need to be focused upon for improving the efficiency score of science & technology from 92.2% to reach the frontier line efficiency. The integrated fuzzy AHP VIKOR presents the ranking considering only the sustainability criteria while fuzzy AHP DEA highlights whether the national investment is in tune with the sustainability criteria for sustainable development.