Care is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of individuals, societies and economics. Every one of us requires care in our lifetime, meaning comprehensive care systems are fundamental for all persons, in all their diversity, to participate equally in society and enjoy the fulfillment of rights. Yet, restrictive social norms and gender stereotypes continue to position women as the primary caregivers and men as the primary income earners, entrenching a gendered divide in the provision of both unpaid and paid care work and fueling the undervaluing of this essential work by society. The ratio of unpaid care work by women is six times more than that of men in Nepal, the highest in the Asia Pacific region.
UN Women hosted the Asia Pacific Transforming Care Forum from October 22-24, 2024, bringing together governments, private companies, and civil society from the region to discuss on the Care agenda. It was an opportunity to showcase the commitment and ongoing initiatives on care from Nepal with the attendance of entities including the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, the National Planning Commission, the Mayors of Birendranagar Municipality and Kathmandu Metropolitan City, as well as representatives from the Nepal Economic Forum who represented the private sector. The delegation from Nepal approached care economy from the perspective of gender financing, social protection, social norms, gender responsive urban planning, and private sector investment in care, not only sharing insights from Nepal but contributing to the regional pathway to care economy.
The forum discussed in depth the transformative role of the care economy in advancing gender equality and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event also focused on building alliances and identifying strategies for coordinated, cross-sector action on care issues, recognizing care as both a human right and a critical pillar of fostering women’s economic empowerment and creating gender-inclusive economies.
Two central themes emerged from the discussions: the urgent need for coordination among multi-stakeholders and the importance of mainstreaming both public and private investment to support a thriving care economy. These points resonate as practical ways to advance gender-responsive financing and promote systemic support for caregivers and care recipients alike.
- The Need for Multistakeholder Coordination:
A Unified Approach to Care The forum underscored that no single entity could tackle the complex issues surrounding care on its own. Meaningful progress requires close collaboration among governments, private sectors, and civil society. It also emphasized the importance of establishing common ground among diverse stakeholders to align priorities and approaches on addressing care. Challenges, such as the burden of unpaid care work, limited access to quality care services, and barriers to women’s labor participation, demand collective action and unified solutions.
A notable example presented was Nepal’s National Gender Equality Policy 2021 which aims to redefine gendered divisions of labor and formalize unpaid care work, further reinforced in the recently finalized 16th periodic plan of the Government of Nepal. Through a national Care Working Group, Nepal has initiated cross-sectoral efforts to meet care needs across the lifecycle, with plans to draft a Care Roadmap that unites sectoral policies toward common national goals in the leadership of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, as well as other sectoral ministries. Nepal is on the path to demonstrates how coordinated, multistakeholder initiatives can create sustainable care solutions that align with broader economic and gender objectives and this calls for multiple stakeholders to join hands. This includes partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Birendranagar Municipality on piloting care infrastructure involving multiple stakeholders.
Looking ahead, establishing strong, evidence-based foundations will be essential for guiding effective policy decisions in the care economy, complemented by accessible and affordable care services on the ground. Building on this, UN Women in Nepal will be rolling out geo-spatial analysis in KMC and Birendranagar Municipality to generate evidence on care needs. Evidence-based policies will not only address immediate needs but also anticipate future demands, creating a more resilient and inclusive care sector. To translate policies into actions, a robust public-private partnership is central to cater sustainable, accessible, and high-quality care services. These partnerships are expected to drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation, ensuring that care services are both affordable and widely available.
- Mainstreaming Investment:
Public and Private Funding to Advance the Care Economy Investing in the care economy is a concrete and sustainable approach to gender-responsive financing. But a critical myth to debunk here, for developing countries like Nepal, is that investment in care does not mean additional burden to public financing but rather it is about aligning the priority with the vision of gender equitable inclusive growth. It is about optimal management of public resource geared towards growth, as well as a life of quality and dignity. One of the examples is the care Block initiative of Bogota, Columbia which introduced a new criterion for the city’s urban planning. This model positions women, caregivers and care work right at the center to organize several of the city’s services and enhance the use of each district’s facilities in favor of caregivers and care recipients.
The discussions during the forum emphasized that public and private investments in care services not only enhance the lives of caregivers and recipients, but also create new job opportunities, particularly for women, and contribute to inclusive economic growth. Additionally, the forum demonstrated various funding models, including innovative financing mechanisms that enable care entrepreneurship, create decent jobs, and address the growing demand for care across demographics. This is critical to Nepal in the context where women’s labor force participation (26.3%) in formal economy is half compared to men (53.6%).
One of the standout presentations was the Care Accelerator 2.0 initiative, which provides low-cost childcare in low-income communities, empowering women to pursue economic opportunities. Similarly, Nepal’s experience with integrating care into its social protection systems highlights the attempts of creating employment while addressing gender inequalities in access to care services. For private sector involvement, programs like the Gender Inclusive Care Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Programme (GICEEP) are pioneering models by collaborating with development banks and private enterprises to strengthen the care ecosystem. Such initiatives not only expand access to care services but also build robust entrepreneurial opportunities for women, further aligning with gender-equity objectives.
To build a thriving and inclusive care economy, targeted public investment will play a critical role in establishing foundational care infrastructure across communities. Public funding is essential for making care services accessible and affordable, ensuring that support reaches all who need it. By prioritizing care-focused public investments, governments can create a solid base that not only provides immediate support but also fosters long-term sustainability within the care sector.
In tandem, private sector engagement will be key to driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation in care services. Private investment and entrepreneurship can also introduce new models of care delivery that respond to evolving needs while optimizing resources. With the private sector’s involvement, particularly with economic experts with strong lens for social development and a focus on promoting private sector growth to improve the lives of people, such as Asian Development Bank and International Finance Corporation, can address the gaps that public initiatives alone may not cover. Together, these investments — public and private — in care services can grow and adapt more rapidly, reaching broader populations and are expected to create a dynamic care ecosystem that supports economic growth, job creation, and gender equity across communities.
Looking Forward: Commitment to a Gender-Responsive Care Economy
The Asia-Pacific Transforming Care Forum set a forward-looking agenda, encouraging stakeholders to integrate care into social protection and economic recovery frameworks. With events like Beijing+30 also occurring, the forum’s outcomes lay the groundwork for deepening commitments to a care economy that advances gender equality and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Moving forward, governments, private companies, and civil society are called upon to strengthen partnerships, increase investments, and adopt data-driven policies that address the complex realities of care provision. Together, these approaches lay the groundwork for a transformative care economy that is equipped to support caregivers, care recipients, and communities at large, making care a shared societal responsibility and a core component of economic resilience and gender equality.
This article was originally published in NEFport 59: Unlocking Care Economy’s Potential in December 2024.
Ms. Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco is the Country Representative of UN Women Nepal. With nearly two decades of experience working with the United Nations at the country, regional, and headquarters levels, Patricia has expertly navigated the intersections of diplomacy, policy, and development. Her leadership at UN Women Colombia, where she addressed humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development challenges, is one testament to her skill in uniting diverse stakeholders for a common cause. Patricia's expertise in gender equality, human rights, and multilateral collaboration continues to guide her work here in Nepal, where she remains a committed partner to governments, civil society’s organizations, and development partners alike.
