Digital Public Works : Leveraging Digital Technology to Modernize the Design and Delivery of Public Works

Overview & Synopsis

Rapid advances in digital technology are transforming how people learn, work and access public services. At the same time, digital skills and work experience are increasingly important for economic inclusion and jobs. This shift presents both opportunities and challenges for social protection systems, including public works programs (PWPs), which have traditionally focused on low-skill jobs and physical infrastructure. Digital PWPs offer an innovative response that leverages the spread of digital technology and integrates digital work and tools into PWPs. Participants may, for example, use mobile phones to map infrastructure, digitize public records, or collect data for local planning, gaining digital work experience while creating valuable digital public assets. By enabling remote, flexible, and non-physical work, digital PWPs can expand the reach and relevance of conventional PWPs. The brief outlines their key features, potential benefits and challenges.