Across the globe, unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW) forms the bedrock of our communities and economies. It's the unseen labor that sustains families, cares for the vulnerable, and keeps our world running. Without it, our economies would collapse.
But this vital work falls disproportionately on women and girls, limiting their access to education, employment, and political participation. This inequality perpetuates poverty and silences their voices in shaping solutions.
The WE-Care Program champions a just and inclusive society by recognizing, reducing, and redistributing UCDW. We’re building a world where women and girls have greater autonomy and choice at every stage of life. We empower carers to influence policies and budgets, ensuring their voices are heard at every level.
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This PS RCA Toolkit complements the original Participatory Methodology: Rapid Care Analysis that focuses on community and local government roles in addressing women’s heavy and unequal share of unpaid care and domestic work. The toolkit also complements broader gender equity audits and strategies for business.
The study seeks to bring visibility to this work and underscore its significance in economic policy. The urgency of the project is highlighted by the recent social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly affected unpaid care work, altering its distribution among men and women as well as across racial and ethnic groups. The paper also brings in the voices of the people who are holding crucial caregiving roles in their communities so readers can hear from individuals directly.
WE-Care Program Manager Charity Namara interrogates the possibility of decolonized learning in multi-country programs, and cites WE-Care as example in promoting a culture of peer learning and collaboration.
Purity Jebor of Oxfam Kenya writes about her experience growing up in a deeply patriarchal culture at the foot of the Nandi Hills, where certain norms and behaviors were so ingrained in her that she considered them natural.
Kitui County policymakers are taking decisive steps to integrate the care economy into their development agenda, recognizing it as a crucial driver for both economic growth and gender equality. This commitment was solidified in June 2025 during a pivotal engagement convened by AWAK.
The Africa Leadership Foundation (ALF) has intensified its efforts over the past three months to champion the recognition, reduction, and redistribution of UCDW, making significant strides in promoting gender justice across the continent.
