DAR ES SALAAM: THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has intensified efforts to promote inclusive and gender-transformative care systems, with a strong focus on recognising and addressing unpaid care work affecting women, girls and persons with disabilities in the country.
The renewed commitment was highlighted during a national symposium on disability inclusion and gender-transformative approaches, which brought together government officials, development partners, disability advocates and civil society organisations to discuss the impact of unpaid care work on social and economic development.
Speaking at the symposium on Wednesday, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms Susan Namondo, said unpaid care work remains one of the most significant yet often overlooked barriers to inclusive growth and national development.
“Women and girls, particularly those with disabilities and caregivers of persons with disabilities, continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities,” she said.
Ms Namondo noted that although such work sustains households, communities and the wider economy, it often remains invisible in policy discussions, national statistics and budget planning.
She said the proposed framework advocates recognising unpaid care work in national statistics and economic policies, reducing the burden through investments in public services and infrastructure, redistributing responsibilities more equitably between men and women, rewarding caregivers through social protection and decent working conditions and ensuring representation of persons with disabilities and caregivers in decision-making processes.
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According to her, Tanzania’s aspirations under Vision 2050 can only be achieved through investments not only in infrastructure, technology and industry, but also in people and social systems that enable every citizen to participate fully in the economy.
UNFPA Country Representative, Mr Mark Schreiner, said unpaid care work remains a critical issue within the United Nations agenda on gender equality and inclusive development. He noted that the initiative seeks to generate evidence and strengthen advocacy for gendertransformative care systems that support women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Persons with Disabilities, Dr Ali Omary, said unpaid care work continues to hinder persons with disabilities from accessing education, healthcare services and income-generating opportunities.
He expressed optimism that findings from the report discussed during the symposium would help strengthen support systems, improve awareness and advance the inclusion of disability issues in national policies and programmes.