In the framework of the project “Care Economies for Sustainable Economic Development with Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean” In which the EU-LAC Foundation participates, the high-level policy dialogue on Care Economy for Sustainable Economic Development with Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean took place.
It addressed the future of long-term care systems in the context of demographic change, labour market transformation, and gender equality. The event convened representatives from governments, international organisations, and regional cooperation institutions from Germany, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico to exchange policy experiences, reform priorities, and opportunities for strategic cooperation.
The dialogue examined the structural challenges currently affecting long-term care systems, including population ageing, increasing care demands, workforce shortages, fiscal sustainability pressures, and persistent gender inequalities in both unpaid and paid care work. Participants highlighted that care systems remain highly feminised, with women continuing to bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities, limiting their economic participation and reinforcing social inequalities.
The workshop also explored ongoing reform processes and policy innovations in participating countries. Discussions focused on financing mechanisms for long-term care, professionalisation and workforce development, institutional coordination, and the role of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in improving care provision and system efficiency. Comparative perspectives from Germany and several Latin American countries provided valuable insights into different governance models, regulatory approaches, and strategies to strengthen universal and gender-responsive care systems.
Special attention was given to emerging care policies and institutional developments in Uruguay, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as broader regional frameworks promoted by ECLAC and partner institutions. Participants emphasised the importance of recognising care as both a social right and a strategic component of sustainable economic development.
The dialogue further contributed to identifying opportunities for reciprocal learning and strategic cooperation within the project “Care Economies for Sustainable Economic Development with Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean” and provided substantive input to the thematic work under the Bi-regional Pact on Care between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, reinforcing care policies as a shared priority for social cohesion, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Participants
- Dr. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D., Professor at Humboldt Universität Berlin
- Gundula Weitz, Head of South America, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
- Dr. Annika Lange, Head of Sub-division, Long-Term Care Insurance, Federal Ministry of Health, Germany
- Maria Becker, Senior Ministerial Officer and Head of the Sub-Department for Strengthening Care, Federal Ministry of Health, Germany
- Mihaela Rollfs of Roelofs, Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
- Ana Güezmes, Chief of the Division for Gender Affairs, ECLAC
- Simone Cecchini, Director, CELADE
- Ana Stefanovic, Gender Consultant of the Division for Gender Affairs, ECLAC
- Barbara Scholz, GIZ Director of the Strategic Alliance ECLAC-BMZ/GIZ
- Belén Pilares La Hoz, GIZ Coordinator of the project Care Economy in the Strategic Alliance ECLAC-BMZ//GIZ
- Gabriela Fuentes, Communicatons Junior Specialist in the Strategic Alliance ECLAC-BMZ/GIZ
- Noelia Martínez, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay – CELAC Pro Tempore Presidency
- Valentina Perrotta, Director of Care, Ministry of Social Development, Uruguay
- Carolina Miranda Rodrigues, Project Manager, National Secretariat for Care and Family Policy, Brazil
- Nina Madsen, Adviser, National Secretariat for Care and Family Policy, Brazil
- Dr. Luis Miguel Hernández Flores, Head of the Health Promotion Division, IMSS Mexico
- Bibiana Aído, Director, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UN WOMEN
- Raquel Coello, Global Lead on Care, UN WOMEN
- Dr. Anna Barrera, Director of Programmes, EU-LAC Foundation
- Odilia Abreu, Consultant for EU-LAC WIN