Care is fundamental to human wellbeing, social cohesion and economic resilience. From early childhood to old age, care sustains families, communities and economies—yet it remains undervalued, underfinanced and deeply gendered, with women carrying the greatest burden through both unpaid work and low-paid care jobs.

The Caring for the Future multi-country report examines care systems across Moldova, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan through a gender responsive, systems-level lens. It analyses unpaid and paid care work alongside legal frameworks, financing, governance and service delivery, showing how underinvestment, fragmented systems and persistent social norms reinforce gender inequalities and weaken care provision. The report offers actionable recommendations to strengthen inclusive, resilient and well-regulated care systems.

Country reports complement the regional analysis with in-depth, context-specific insights. These reports examine how care is organised, governed and financed at country level, identify key gaps and pressures and propose tailored policy options grounded in national realities.
•    Insights from Türkiye focuses on limited access to childcare and long-term care, strong reliance on family-based and unpaid care, and precarious conditions in paid care work, highlighting reform priorities around service expansion, coordination and redistribution of care responsibilities.
•    Insights from Uzbekistan examines care reforms amid demographic change, identifying gaps in service availability, financing and workforce formalisation and underscoring the need for sustained investment and professionalised, quality care services.