This report presents the findings of a feminist political economy analysis of the care economy in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The study examines eight intersecting challenges: economic exclusion, infrastructure gaps, the informalisation of care work, climate change, migration, social protection, the impact of COVID-19, and shifting political landscapes. The challenges demonstrate that care work is crucial and should be tracked and incorporated into the development agendas of the five countries.
Grounded in feminist values and care justice principles, the research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to capture the lived realities and structural dynamics that shape care. Sixty in-depth Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted with individuals across social classes and institutions, purposely selected for their insights into the policies and practices surrounding unpaid care. Quantitative data was collected through face-to-face household surveys led by in-country feminists, with carefully selected and representative samples that allowed for cross-country generalisability.