NAIROBI, Kenya — New evidence on Kenya's care economy is expected to strengthen national efforts to reform care policies and improve support systems for caregivers, persons with disabilities and families following the development and launch of two landmark knowledge products under the UN Joint Programme on Unpaid Care, Disability and Gender Transformative Approaches (2024– 2026).
The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), a member of the Joint Programme, participated in the development, technical review and launch of the studies, which provide comprehensive evidence on the state of Kenya's care and support systems. The reports examine the social and economic value of care work, identify persistent policy and service gaps, and propose interventions aimed at strengthening inclusive care systems that support sustainable development and gender equality.
The initiative comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly recognising the care economy as a critical component of inclusive economic growth, social protection and human development. While care work sustains households, communities and the broader economy, a significant proportion of it remains unpaid and is disproportionately undertaken by women and girls, limiting their opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship, leadership and civic participation.
According to the studies, unpaid care work extends beyond household responsibilities to include childcare, caring for older persons, supporting persons with disabilities, cooking.
The reports reaffirm that strengthening care systems is both a human rights obligation and a development priority. They emphasise that effective care policies require coordinated public investment, inclusive service delivery and institutional reforms that recognise care as shared social responsibility rather than an individual or household obligation.
A central finding of the studies is the need to recognise, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work. The evidence highlights the importance of expanding access to quality childcare services, strengthening disability support systems, improving social protection programmes, investing in water, sanitation and energy infrastructure, and promoting workplace policies that support caregivers.
These measures, the reports note, can help reduce the disproportionate care burden carried by women and girls while enabling greater participation in education, decent work and leadership. The studies also underscore the importance of strengthening support for persons with disabilities and their caregivers. They identify accessible public services, inclusive infrastructure, community-based care systems and adequate social protection as essential components of responsive care systems that uphold dignity, equality and independence.
The Commission's contribution to the initiative aligns with its constitutional mandate to promote equality and freedom from discrimination while advancing evidence-based policies that address structural inequalities affecting Special Interest Groups.
Through its participation in the Joint Programme, the Commission continues to advocate for policy reforms that recognise the economic and social value of care work and strengthen institutional responses to unpaid care responsibilities.
The knowledge products are expected to inform national and county policy development, planning and budgeting by providing evidence to support investment in care infrastructure and services. They also contribute to Kenya's broader commitments under the Constitution, the Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights frameworks that promote gender equality, disability inclusion and social justice.
The initiative further reinforces the importance of integrating unpaid care work into public policy discussions, recognising that unequal care responsibilities continue to shape labour market participation, income security and access to opportunities. Strengthening care systems, the studies indicate, can contribute to more inclusive labour markets, improved productivity and better development outcomes for families and communities. As Kenya advances implementation of the UN Joint Programme on Unpaid Care, Disability and Gender Transformative Approaches (2024–2026), the evidence generated through the two studies is expected to guide reforms that strengthen care and support systems across the country.
The Commission maintains that sustained investment in care services, inclusive public policies and coordinated institutional action will be essential to reducing inequalities, promoting equal opportunities and ensuring that women, girls, persons with disabilities and other Special Interest Groups can participate fully in the country's social, economic and public life.
