Public Works and the Jobs Agenda: Pathways for Social Cohesion? Background Paper for the World Development Report

This note discusses the way in which public works may enhance social cohesion, and how -if poorly designed- they may undermine such objectives. While ‘hard’ evidence on these linkages is limited, a review of international experience suggests a number of important pathways through which programs are being leveraged. Three main pathways are considered, and include: promoting voice and participation through program processes; improving social inclusion and equality through temporary labor market participation; and smoothing social tension and building trust in response to sudden shocks—as well as longer term fragility.

The note is devised as a background contribution to the 2013 World Development Report, focused on Jobs. In particular, the note aims to inform a central hypothesis of the WDR, which posits that jobs can be transformational by three means: enhanced living standards, improved productivity and, finally, greater social cohesion. The note focuses on the link between public works programs and social cohesion, and the notion that temporary employment gained through public works can be unique in promoting engagement, trust and civic inclusion. The note focuses primarily on public works programs, since—among safety net interventions—they are labor based, and mainly targeted towards able bodied people.

World Bank 2013

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.