OFFICIAL RELEASE: The Africa Care Economy Index

Posted on September 07, 2022

The Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship's research associate, Professor Salimah Valiani, is happy to announce the publication of The Africa Care Economy Index in 2022. 

The Index "offers a concrete evaluation of African state performance in the recognition, support and redistribution of caring work". 

In Africa, the care economy has long been unrecognised. At least since the last pandemic — HIV-AIDS — caring work has been severely undervalued in the continent, and the redistribution of caring work, from females in the home and communities, next to nonexistent. The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed attention to the care economy globally. The Africa Care Economy Index offers a concrete evaluation of African state performance in the recognition, support and redistribution of caring work. Based on a definition of care economy and related concepts relevant in Africa, the Index uses ten metrics to evaluate the 54 states of the continent. Demonstrating longstanding neglect of the care economy by all states in Africa, recommendations are made around broad policy and in depth research required to begin supporting and redistributing caring work. Social recognition and state support for caring work are shown to be central to building holistic development that benefits the majority in Africa.

Professor Valiani is an independent researcher of world historical political economy, with specialisations in health, care, and mineral based development.

The Index can be accessed here

- Author Kirsty Nepomuceno

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