UN Women Liberia, with support from the Governments of Norway and Sweden, has launched the Liberia Care Snapshot, a landmark assessment highlighting the vital contribution of paid and unpaid care work to the country’s economy and the advancement of women’s economic empowerment.
The report reveals that Liberian women contribute an estimated 1.08 billion US dollars annually through market-based economic activities, while unpaid care and domestic work accounts for an additional 530 million US dollars each year.
According to the findings, closing gender gaps could increase Liberia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by as much as 23.7 per cent, while strategic investments in childcare and eldercare could boost the country’s GDP by up to 19.3 per cent.
The report was launched at a stakeholders’ forum attended by representatives of government institutions, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations, academia, youth groups and the media. Discussions focused on evidence-based policies aimed at recognising, reducing and redistributing unpaid care work while strengthening Liberia’s care economy.
Speaking at the event, the UN Women Representative in Liberia, Dr. Abul Hasnat Monjurul Kabir, described investment in the care economy as a strategic approach to sustainable development.
“Investing in care is not a cost—it is a smart investment that yields substantial social and economic returns,” he said.
Launching the report on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Deputy Minister Curtis V. Dorley reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the care economy, stressing that care should be viewed as a productive investment rather than a social cost.
He called for increased investment in childcare services, social protection programmes, family-friendly workplace policies, and support services for older persons and persons with disabilities.
UN Women said the Liberia Care Snapshot provides an important evidence base to guide policy reforms and public investments that promote gender equality, create employment opportunities, reduce poverty and accelerate sustainable development across the country.