Care work is vital for economies and societies to function, yet it remains undervalued and disproportionately shouldered by women. In Türkiye, women perform four times more unpaid domestic work than men. The burden of caregiving often limits their participation in the workforce, contributing to a gender employment gap of over 35 percentage points. Addressing these inequalities is not just about fairness—it is an economic imperative. Studies show that if a 6.25% gross additional annual investment is made in Türkiye, it could create nearly 3.9 million jobs, while reducing the gender employment gap by 7.45%.
Recognizing these challenges, Türkiye’s 12th National Development Plan and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy (2024-2028) emphasize expanding quality care services. However, gaps in financing and infrastructure persist. The Joint SDG Fund invested in the joint programme titled “Transformative Growth of the Care Economy in Türkiye”, designed to bridge these gaps by developing a national vision for care economy investments and leveraging digital solutions for better service delivery.
The programme aims to strengthen the care economy, promote inclusive growth, and accelerate progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by developing practical care economy models based on global best practices, leveraging digital solutions to support independent living and ageing in place, and strengthening government and social partners' capacities in Türkiye to drive transformative growth in the care economy.
Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and with full coordination support from the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), this initiative is being implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with technical contributions from UN Women, UNICEF, and UNFPA. The Ministry of Family and Social Services is the key governmental partner, working alongside public institutions, worker and employer organizations, and civil society organizations (CSOs).
“By demonstrating how increased investment in equitable and quality public care services can help to transform the care economy in Türkiye, this joint program will engender women’s economic empowerment and boost national productivity”, said Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye.
How the Joint Programme is Driving Change
The Transformative Growth of the Care Economy in Türkiye Joint Programme is focused on strengthening the care economy through three key approaches. First, it will develop and implement new care models by working with public institutions, local authorities, and social partners to enhance accessibility and quality for children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. These models will incorporate best global practices and innovative solutions to ensure inclusivity. Second, it will build government and social partner capacities, strengthening their ability to develop, implement, and monitor policies that improve care services while creating a sustainable financing roadmap. Finally, the programme will leverage digital transformation by promoting tools such as telehealth, AI-driven support systems, and online training platforms to modernize caregiving practices, making them more efficient, accessible, and responsive to care recipients' needs.
The programme also emphasizes a collaborative approach by bringing together multiple stakeholders, including policymakers, social partners, and the private sector, to ensure a holistic and sustainable transformation of the care economy. Through these efforts, the initiative aims to create a care system that is well-financed, technologically advanced, and aligned with international best practices, ultimately supporting economic growth and gender equality in Türkiye.
To advance gender equality, we must invest in the systems that support women’s economic participation. This International Women’s Day, let us commit to recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work while ensuring that care workers receive the recognition and protection they deserve. Together, we can make care work visible, valued, and sustainable for generations to come.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
