Rethinking Care Reform: From Invisible Work to Policy Priority

This Expert Group Meeting entitled "The Political Economy of Care Policies: Determinants for Reform in the Arab Region" explores why care remains undervalued in the Arab region, and what it takes to place it at the heart of social and economic reform.

As demand for care grows, much of this work continues to be unpaid, informal and largely carried out by women, limiting their visibility, economic opportunities and participation in public life. Paid care work, too, is often treated as an extension of women’s unpaid responsibilities, leaving many care workers in low-paid and insecure jobs.

Despite its links to social protection, labour markets, health and gender equality, care is still too often framed as a private responsibility rather than a public policy priority. As a result, care reforms struggle to gain sufficient political traction and remain limited, rather than being recognized as a critical economic and political concern.

The meeting examines the political and institutional factors that shape care reforms, and brings together experts and policymakers to identify pathways for making care visible, valued and central to inclusive development in the Arab region.