The closing event of the UN Joint Programme on Transformative Growth of the Care Economy in Türkiye showcased the country’s commitment to positioning the care economy as a cornerstone for inclusive and sustainable development. Care work, which supports life, families, and communities, has historically been undervalued and disproportionately carried by women. Recognizing its economic and social importance, Türkiye, in partnership with the United Nations, has taken significant steps to make care visible in policy, planning, and public discourse.
Representatives from government institutions, UN agencies, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and civil society convened in Ankara on 21 October to celebrate the achievements of the Joint Programme, share innovative care models, and reaffirm Türkiye’s commitment to advancing care as a strategic priority for inclusive growth. The event coincided with preparations for the first-ever International Day of Care and Support on 29 October, underlining care’s vital role in society.
Speakers emphasized the dual importance of care as both a social and economic strategy. Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, noted that universal access to quality care services and decent conditions for all care workers can improve well-being, create jobs, close gender pay gaps, and foster inclusive economic growth. Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş highlighted the long-overdue recognition of care work, noting that investments in the care economy strengthen social protection, reduce inequalities, and improve the quality of life for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Türkiye has increasingly recognized the care economy as a strategic pillar of national development. Key policy frameworks—including the 12th National Development Plan (2024–2028), the Women’s Empowerment Strategy and Action Plan (2024–2028), and the upcoming National Employment Strategy (2025–2028)—prioritize the expansion of care services to boost women’s labor force participation, create decent jobs, and enhance social protection.
The UN Joint Programme, coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and led by the ILO in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, and UNFPA, supported Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services and other national stakeholders in developing inclusive, rights-based care policies. Over the past year, the programme established a Multi-Sectorial Working Group on Care Economy, strengthened institutional capacities, developed models for equitable care service delivery, and promoted national awareness of care work’s economic and social value.
UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi highlighted the UN’s ongoing engagement, emphasizing continued advisory, technical, and capacity-building support, facilitation of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and leveraging global platforms to sustain and expand care economy initiatives across Türkiye. He stressed that care underpins equality, growth, and social justice, and that making care visible and valued is critical for societal well-being.
The event also featured a panel discussion on sustaining and scaling the Joint Programme’s results. Moderated by Burcu Ayhan Ekenci from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, panelists from academia and social security institutions discussed the role of research, social dialogue, and policy innovation in strengthening Türkiye’s care infrastructure and ensuring the long-term sustainability of programme outcomes.
