The Jobs MDTF contributes to better jobs outcomes in developing countries by leveraging large-scale operations. It supports operational design and implementation to ensure that investments, across sectors, maximize the benefits they can potentially generate in terms of job creation, job quality and inclusiveness.
The Supporting Effective Jobs Lending at Scale (SEJLS) program was piloted between 2020 and 2023 under the Jobs MDTF. The program was designed to leverage large scale World Bank investments by informing key project design elements to maximize their impact on job outcomes. The program was designed with two development objectives:
- to support comprehensive, integrated, and high-impact jobs strategies across WBG operational areas;
- to create new knowledge on effective jobs-related interventions and measurement, especially for the most vulnerable groups, as a global public good.
Upon completion, SEJLS has effectively utilized the approved 2.25 million USD in 15 grants to leverage a sizable lending portfolio of 3 billion USD. The portfolio has a comprehensive coverage of sectors, regions, and lending instruments. SEJLS also collaborated closely with operational teams to support the technical design and implementation of a portfolio selected based on having high potential job effects; and demonstrating great strategic importance in the sectoral portfolio.
To date, SEJLS has contributed to improving technical standards on project design, jobs impact measurement, and project coordination. Through its activities, the program amassed a large knowledge base that is strategic for future efforts.