We partnered with the Government of Malawi to study the impact of their large public works program, including the introduction of budget-neutral design features. Our results did not find that the public works program was effective in achieving its aim of improving food security during the 2012/2013 agricultural season. Also, offering this income opportunity during the planting season did not result in greater use of fertilizer, despite this intention. It was difficult to say how the extra income from this work was spent or saved, perhaps because the amount of earnings from the program was not sufficiently large.
GLM|LIC Policy Brief No. 2