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Women RISE End-of-Project
Gerald Kombo
February 03, 2025
Bernard Omondi Abudho, COHESU-KENYA
3rd February 2025
đź“Ť Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
For years, women have carried the weight of unpaid care work—cooking, cleaning, and tending to the sick—while also contributing to economic progress. But who acknowledges this labor? And how can societies fairly redistribute it?
At the Women RISE End-of-Project forum, global researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders gathered to discuss the intersection of women’s health, work, and economic empowerment in the post-COVID era. Among them was Bernard Omondi Abudho of COHESU-KENYA, who shared key insights on the care economy and gender equity.
Women are the backbone of the care economy, yet their contributions remain undervalued. If we want real change, we need policies that support accessible childcare, paid family leave, and cultural shifts that encourage men to take on caregiving roles.
The research findings emphasized that while women took on more responsibilities during the pandemic, the economic recovery phase offers an opportunity for change. Institutions and governments must step up by:
âś… Investing in healthcare infrastructure to ease the caregiving burden.
âś… Developing policies for shared responsibility in households.
✅ Shifting cultural mindsets so caregiving is not seen as just "women’s work."
🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Bernard Omondi Abudho below: