Promoting gender equality and equal opportunities and treatment in the care economy

Recent evaluations of programmes aimed at promoting gender equality and equal opportunities in the care economy – specifically concerning women’s participation in the workforce – reveal both successes and ongoing challenges across several Asian nations. These findings, stemming from interventions in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, highlight the complex interplay between care provision, government priorities, and women’s labor force participation (FLFP).

Key Findings and Challenges

The evaluations emphasize the importance of understanding how different forms of care – including childcare and elder care – impact women’s ability to enter or remain in the workforce. In Indonesia, pilot programmes focused on childcare underscored the need to tailor services to diverse needs, recognizing the crucial, often unpaid, role of family members like grandmothers. Thailand’s experience brought to light questions surrounding customary elder care responsibilities and their potential to create barriers for women, particularly those balancing both child and elder care duties.

Did You Know? The evaluations covered programmes in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

However, determining how best to support women through childcare provision hasn’t been straightforward. Evidence from pilot interventions in Bangladesh and Indonesia hasn’t been fully analysed or integrated into future decision-making. India’s experience demonstrates how shifting government priorities can impact interventions, highlighting the need for strong, collaborative ownership among stakeholders to mitigate political risks.

The Role of Government Alignment

A key success factor identified was alignment with existing government priorities, such as increasing FLFP. This alignment fostered momentum and facilitated problem-solving through multi-sector collaboration and the creation of task forces.

Expert Insight: The findings suggest that successful interventions require a nuanced understanding of the care ecosystem, acknowledging both paid and unpaid care work, and adapting strategies to specific cultural and economic contexts.

The evaluations also point to the need for context-specific data collection on how care provision intersects with women’s labor force participation. This includes understanding the roles of unpaid caregivers at all ages and the combined impact of managing both child and elder care responsibilities. Such evidence is crucial for aligning policies with government goals and effectively supporting women’s continuous participation in the workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries were included in these evaluations?

The evaluations included interventions in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

What is a key challenge identified in supporting women’s workforce participation?

The question of exactly how child care provision can support women to enter or remain in work has not been straightforward in either Bangladesh or Indonesia.

What was identified as a key success factor for these interventions?

An ‘enabling environment’ of alignment with key government priorities such as FLFP allowed for momentum and problem-solving.

As governments continue to prioritize women’s economic empowerment, will a deeper understanding of the care economy lead to more effective and sustainable policies?