The care economy is a cornerstone of sustainable development and gender equality, yet in Uzbekistan it remains fragmented and heavily reliant on women’s unpaid labour. 

UNDP’s Caring for the Future: Insights from Uzbekistan study shows that women perform more than twice as many hours of unpaid care work as men, contributing to low female labour force participation, a wide gender pay gap, and high NEET rates among young women. Strengthening care services, investing in childcare and long-term care, and advancing gender-responsive policies are critical to unlocking women’s economic empowerment, inclusive growth, and progress towards SDGs 5, 8, and 10.