World Bank urges shift to skill-based public works schemes

The World Bank is urging governments to revamp public works programmes, warning that short-term, low-skilled jobs are no longer enough to tackle unemployment. In its new report, the lender says traditional schemes focus on temporary infrastructure work but fail to deliver lasting economic benefits or pathways to stable employment.

Instead, the Bank recommends programmes that build skills for a changing labour market. It identifies three focus areas: care services (childcare, elder care, home-based support), digital work (mapping, data collection, digitised records), and green jobs (land restoration, climate resilience, environmental protection). Examples cited include childcare linked to public works in Burkina Faso and Rwanda, youth mapping projects in Kenya, and flood-control efforts in Malawi.

The Bank says these approaches are more inclusive and cost-effective, particularly for women, youth, and people in fragile regions. They also align with broader policy goals like digital transformation and climate resilience. Countries that invest in such forward-looking programmes could unlock greater value from public spending while preparing workers for future jobs.

With Nigeria's urban population projected to reach 264 million by 2050 and persistent unemployment, should the federal government redesign public works schemes to focus on care, digital, and green jobs rather than road construction?

SOURCE: https://guardian.ng/appointments/world-bank-calls-for-revamp-of-employment-schemes/