Morocco has become the first country in the Arab region and the second in Africa to adopt a national strategy dedicated to the care economy and care work, following Kenya’s pioneering move.
The strategy seeks to advance gender equality, create decent jobs and drive inclusive growth by transforming care from a responsibility largely carried by families, particularly women, into a shared social and economic responsibility.
Developed by Morocco’s Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UN Women, the strategy covers the entire life cycle.
It includes early childhood, maternity and paternity protection, parental leave, older persons, people with disabilities and individuals requiring care because of dependency or vulnerability.
Commenting on the strategy, Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family Naïma Ben Yahia said the strategy is the culmination of a participatory process and aims to transform care from a responsibility borne primarily by families, particularly women, into a shared responsibility that contributes to the creation of decent jobs, women’s economic empowerment, the professionalisation of care occupations, the development of community-based services and improved care for populations requiring support.
She added that the strategy would make the care economy a genuine driver of inclusive and sustainable development.
Morocco’s move places it alongside Kenya as one of the few African countries to have adopted a comprehensive national policy framework focused on the care economy.
Both countries’ approaches are anchored in the 5R framework promoted by UN Women and the ILO. The framework calls for governments to recognise, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work, while rewarding and representing paid care workers.
The strategy comes as countries grapple with ageing populations, changing family structures and growing demand for care services, while also seeking to create employment opportunities and expand social protection.
“Care can no longer be treated as a private responsibility borne primarily by women. It must be recognised as a public good, an essential service, a source of decent employment, and a pillar of inclusive and resilient economies,” said Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director for UN Women.
“This strategy is a significant step forward for Morocco and for our shared vision of transforming care systems as a foundation for equality, dignity and sustainable development.”
The move cements a potential blueprint for countries such as Kenya, where a recent study by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) found that investment in care infrastructure could unlock Sh3.1 trillion in economic gains.
The state-owned think tank estimates Kenya would need to invest Sh786.8 billion, or an average of Sh52.5 billion annually over 15 years, to close gaps in healthcare, childcare, education, water, sanitation, energy, transport, digital connectivity and community care services.
The investment could generate Sh2.3 trillion in net benefits, with every shilling invested producing Sh3.9 in total economic benefits and Sh2.9 in net returns.
KIPPRA estimates that care activities were worth Sh5.2 trillion in Kenya in 2024, equivalent to 32.4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, highlighting the significant economic value of both paid and unpaid care work.
The findings underscore the potential of national care strategies to go beyond social policy by supporting job creation, women’s economic empowerment and broader economic growth.
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