“Making Care Work Count” 14 October, 2010  

Why make care work count Across SADC, unpaid, voluntary, informal networks of care providers have emerged as a critical vanguard in the provision of care to sick people When men get ill women care for them, and there is no need for formal home-based care assistance; but when women get sick, men often prefer to find other women care-givers to provide support

Why make care work count Many countries have seen cut backs and privatisation of health care services which have shifted the provision of health and welfare services to women’s unpaid care work. The pandemic has made it clear how false the savings are when a state cuts back on public expenditures for welfare and health care. The costs do not disappear, but are borne by women.

Research undertaken shows that: Care work takes place in the home and is mostly done by women and girls. Because this work is unpaid, it is often taken for granted and undervalued. Caring for someone with AIDS can increase the workload of a family caretaker by one third. Women and girls unable to get on with their lives, ending in more poverty

Activities undertaken 2006 launch of Making care work campaign – bringing issues of care work to the fore 2008/2009 VSO-RAISA in partnership with WHO Africa reveals that care work invariably falls on the shoulders of women 2009 April GEMSA conducted regional analysis of policies in SADC – shows lack of gender sensitive policies 2010 GEMSA and VSO-RAISA published a policy handbook

SADC PROTOCOL ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT Contributing to policy development. Article 27 (c): “State parties shall by 2015: Develop and implement policies and programmes to ensure appropriate recognition of the work carried out by care givers, majority of whom are women, allocation of resources and psychological support for care-givers as well as promote the involvement of men in the care and support of People Living with HIV and AIDS.”

KEY ISSUES GEMSA and VSO-RAISA have over the years conducted research into care work-related issues in the region The research identified the following as key principles to contribute towards meeting the requirements of the Protocol: a. Remuneration b. Logistics and material support c. Training and professional recognition d. Psychosocial support for carers e. Gender Equality f. Private Public Partnerships

Purpose of the Handbook To identify gaps in existing policy, legislation and data and recommend to governments on better practices. To assess the current challenges facing care workers Act as a reference guide that will enable interest groups to initiate, advocate and lobby for care provider policies Provide good examples of policy to inform this work; and Identify appropriate methods for evaluating policies and their implementation.

Overview of the policy development process This Handbook takes readers through the key steps in advocating for the development, adoption, implementation and enforcement of a care providers’ policy. The components in this process include : - Framing a carework policy - Country Mapping and Stakeholder Analysis - Building a Coalition - Influencing Policy Uptake and Implementation - Developing an Advocacy and Lobbying Plan, - Monitoring and Evaluation

Next steps Country launches to raise awareness Initiate or contribute to existing policy and legislation development processes on unpaid care work Putting care work on the media agenda Monitoring of progress made in country and provision of reports to SADC VSO-RAISA and GEMSA collaboration with SADC-PF, MPs in country, health officials, etc

MAKING CARE WORK COUNT Thank you.