completed· Education

Transforming the care economy through impact businesses and investment: outreach, knowledge translation, and synthesis

This initiative is aimed at generating the knowledge needed to transform the care economy (such as childcare and eldercare) in the Global South through social enterprises and impact investing. Three main streams of research will be supported: (1) a series of case studies assessing the market opportunity for business and investment to offer transformative solutions for the care economy at the local level, and evaluative research for learning and ensuring that market-based solutions and investing are achieving the intended impact; (2) action research on scalable and market-based approaches to reduce women’s care burden and build the pipeline through support to business incubation and acceleration in the care sector; and (3) synthesizing, engaging, and sharing knowledge globally to improve regulations, policies, and business practices and to advance impact investing in the care economy.   This project will synthesize evidence and lessons on social enterprises, impact investing, and the care economy. It will also support dialogues amongst policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and the private sector to promote comprehensive care systems where the private sector plays an important role. This project will also help build synergies with the knowledge translation activities planned for similar IDRC-funded projects and activities. At least 15 high-level events will feature IDRC-supported work and five major synthesis publications will be developed to amplify the impact and reinforce IDRC’s thought leadership.