Providing basic income and employmentsupport is an essential component of the government effortsto rebuild the province of Sichuan from the devastationcaused by the earthquake. The primary objective of suchpolicies is to protect the most vulnerable households in theaffected communities. These policies can also have benefitsin terms of rejuvenating local economic activities bycreating purchasing power in affected areas, as well asrebuilding severely damaged basic infrastructure byintegrating select reconstruction activities with socialprotection programs. This note focuses on two mainapproaches: cash transfer and public works programs. Afterthe South Asia earthquake in 2005, Pakistan used a cashtransfer program to protect the vulnerable and helpregenerate local economies. To illustrate how a public worksprogram can be a flexible instrument for providingshort-term income support while at the same timecontributing to the recovery of essential publicinfrastructure, the experience of several countries isintroduced. Building on these country experiences, the notediscusses key lessons relevant for China.
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