Do public works programmes create valuable assets for livelihoods and resilience? A retrospective study of the impacts of assets for natural resource management in Ethiopia and Kenya

Public works programmes (PWPs) channel billions of dollars annually, with wage transfers forming a major share of budgets. These programmes justify additional costs of supervision and materials by assuming that constructed assets will generate long‑term livelihood benefits. Yet evidence of such impacts is rarely studied.

Using mixed methods in Ethiopia (soil and water conservation in North Wollo) and Kenya (earth dams in Makueni County), this report assessed the contribution of PWP assets three to five years after implementation. Findings reveal negligible livelihood impacts: earth dams failed to improve water access due to poor design, while hillside conservation produced visible environmental changes without economic benefits. Across both cases, labour absorption was prioritized over asset quality, undermining resilience outcomes.

The study highlights systemic weaknesses in PWP design and monitoring, cautioning against reliance on anecdotal success stories. Policy implications stress the need for rigorous evaluation, cost‑effectiveness, and consideration of unconditional transfers where asset benefits cannot be assured.