Co-organized by:
Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)
Ministry of Finance, Japan
Tuesday, March 11th | 8:30 – 10:00AM (Breakfast will be served)
Japan Society, New York
333 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017
Objective
This event, hosted on the sidelines of CSW69, aims to convene a dynamic roundtable discussion to explore the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs in the care economy. The conversation will focus on three key areas: (1) the significant economic potential of investing in women-led SMEs (WSMEs) in childcare, healthcare, and elderly care; (2) the broader societal impact of a thriving care economy in fostering growth, strengthening communities, and advancing human capital; and (3) an urgent call for governments, foundations, and corporations to reimagine investment opportunities in the care sector, with a special emphasis on empowering women entrepreneurs through global partnerships such as the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi).
This event will engage the following stakeholders:
- Governments – to explore how to integrate the care economy into their development priorities.
- Foundations – to discuss supporting innovative care initiatives and scale proven models.
- Corporations – to align investments to empower women entrepreneurs in the care sector.
- We-Fi and its Implementing Partners – to explore how to mobilize partnerships, unlock financing, and drive transformative impact in the care economy.
Background
The care economy is a critical driver of global economic stability and growth. The ILO estimates that a projected 475 million more formal jobs will be needed to meet global demand in the care economy, and investing in universal childcare and long-term care services could generate up to 280 million jobs by 2030. Women entrepreneurs are central to delivering care services, but they face substantial barriers to accessing the capital, networks, and resources needed to scale their businesses.
The care economy is also essential to building resilient societies, particularly in the face of global challenges such as aging populations, urbanization, and slowing economic growth. Key contributions of the care economy include strengthening communities by addressing critical care deficits, enhancing workforce participation, particularly among women, by reducing the burden of unpaid care work, and fostering social cohesion through improved access to care services that benefit children, the elderly, and vulnerable populations.
Roundtable Themes
- Unlocking the Economic Potential of Societies: Stakeholders will share perspectives on how the care economy strengthens communities, create jobs, and supports broader economic development objectives.
- Women Entrepreneurs’ Potential to Scale the Care Economy: Participants will discuss opportunities to innovate and scale investment in women entrepreneurs in the care economy and the economic returns of such investments.
- Call to Action: Participants will outline concrete actions for donors, corporations, and development organizations to elevate the care economy and support women entrepreneurs.
Agenda forthcoming
