Many nations face growing challenges as public policies separate economic growth from social welfare. Care work, crucial for public health and community resilience, is often undervalued and excluded from economic and security strategies. This disconnect undermines the well‑being of vulnerable populations and limits a nation’s ability to achieve sustainable, inclusive growth. Recognizing care as a strategic asset is essential for building a resilient and cohesive society.

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Our Approach and Research Priorities

GENDERISE integrated approach seeks to bridge the gap between care, security, and macroeconomic policy. We ask critical questions such as: How do existing policies overlook the contributions of unpaid and underpaid care work? What data are needed to reveal the true impact of care deficits on public health and economic productivity? And which interventions can successfully integrate care support into broader economic and security frameworks? By addressing these questions, we aim to develop policies that promote equitable growth and resilient communities.

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​Reconfiguring Policy Frameworks

•  GENDERISE will begin by identifying and addressing the policy gaps that have historically undervalued care work. Current frameworks will have been structured in a way that isolates economic, security, and social welfare policies from one another. In the future, we will work to dismantle these silos by establishing inter‑agency task forces that bring together government bodies responsible for economic planning, environmental management, and social services. This cross‑departmental coordination will ensure that the contributions of care work will be recognized and integrated into national economic models. We will revise legislative frameworks and advocate for reforms that formally acknowledge the economic and social value of both paid and unpaid care. In doing so, we will allocate dedicated funding for public care services such as healthcare, childcare, and eldercare.

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• GENDERISE future work will demonstrate that by breaking down these traditional policy barriers, governments will be able to design strategies that reflect the interdependencies between care, security, and macroeconomy. Integrated governance will become a cornerstone of national policy, allowing for the alignment of budgetary allocations with the holistic needs of society. As a result, investments in care work will be seen not as an expense but as a critical investment in human capital and overall national resilience.

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Enhancing Data Systems​

• GENDERISE  will also focus on bridging data gaps that currently obscure the true value of care work. Existing data collection methods will have been limited in their ability to capture the nuanced contributions of care, particularly among marginalized groups. In the future, we will develop robust, disaggregated data systems that will gather community-level insights on the distribution and impact of care work. By employing innovative methods—such as community surveys, participatory mapping, and localized focus groups—we will generate detailed datasets that reveal how care is distributed across different genders, income levels, and geographic areas.

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• This improved data infrastructure will enable policymakers to design targeted interventions that address local needs and reduce inequities. Transparent, disaggregated data will become an essential tool for evidence-based policymaking, ensuring that decisions will be informed by a clear understanding of the social and economic contributions of care. Moreover, by integrating these data systems into national planning processes, we will foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, as policymakers will be able to monitor the outcomes of their initiatives in real-time.

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Implementing Targeted Interventions

• GENDERISE strategy will include a series of specific, solution-oriented interventions designed to integrate care into broader policy domains. We will leverage public–private partnerships to pool resources and expertise, thereby expanding access to quality care services. In practice, this may involve collaborations that lead to the development of affordable healthcare facilities, modern childcare centers, or innovative eldercare solutions that benefit underserved populations.​

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• GENDERISE will also support community-led care initiatives that empower local organizations to design and implement solutions tailored to their unique contexts. These grassroots projects will demonstrate that when communities are given the resources and authority to manage care services, they will be better able to address their own needs. Alongside these initiatives, we will implement participatory budgeting processes that will involve local residents in deciding how public funds are allocated. By democratizing the budgeting process, we will ensure that investments in care are prioritized and that the voices of those most affected are heard.