Using Evidence to Build Caring Cities Scaling Care Blocks across Africa and Latin America

One of the greatest barriers to gender equality globally is the disproportionate share of responsibility for (under)paid and unpaid care work that falls on women. COVID-19 demonstrated that our society couldn't function without this labour, but it is often unpaid and unrecognised. Cities and municipalities are well positioned to address these complex issues and have a unique role to play by investing in policies and piloting territorial models to support caregivers through gender-responsive urban infrastructure, accessible quality childcare in market centers and informal settlements, access to time- and labour-saving technologies, education and training, and respite and recognition spaces. The “Care Block” model speaks to this approach and is being implemented, adapted, and piloted in cities such as Bogotá, Freetown, the State of Jalisco, and Nairobi. Care Blocks are not just service centers; they embody feminist urbanism by reimagining cities as ecosystems where care is infrastructure, on par with transport or water systems. In Bogotá, the model’s birthplace in 2020, 27 blocks serve over 100,000 residents annually, offering integrated services that reduce women’s unpaid care time by combining daycare, job training, and violence prevention, informed by participatory assessments showing that 70% of women in low-income areas lacked nearby care options. However, in an era of escalating political mobilizations, fiscal austerity, and care inequalities exacerbated by urbanization and climate shocks, these gains are vulnerable. Sustained, rigorous evidence generation through community-based research, longitudinal studies, participatory mapping, and economic modeling is imperative to “hold the line,” counter narratives that frame care as a private rather than public good, and build strong cases for sustained funding. This session confronts these tensions and urges cities to continue investing in care infrastructure through political shifts. Organized as a South-South dialogue, this “Voices from Cities” session will highlight the evidence needed to sustain caring cities, drawing on examples from Bogotá, Jalisco, Freetown, and Nairobi. It will also launch the “IKEA Care Block Guide,” developed by Cities Change with partner cities, providing practical tools for municipal governments and planners. Through presentations, panels, and interactive discussion, participants will be equipped to advocate for care as a cornerstone of inclusive urbanism.