Minister Dr Rana calls care work as vital service to humanity

September 5, Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba declared care work a profound service to humanity, emphasising its role in nurturing the well-being of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Speaking at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Care Forum in Kathmandu, she highlighted the rising demand for care services in Nepal, from childcare to healthcare, deeply embedded in the nation’s joint family culture. “Care ensures the well-being of individuals from childhood to old age, reflecting the core values of Nepali society,” she said.

Despite its importance, Minister Rana noted that care work, often performed by women, remains undervalued, underfunded, and overlooked in economic metrics, with unpaid domestic work disproportionately limiting women’s economic and public roles. Nepal has taken progressive steps, integrating care into its 16th national plan through programs like Early Childhood Education and Care, Old Age Homes, Day Care Centers, and Safe Houses for vulnerable groups. However, challenges persist, including inadequate policies, gender disparities, limited caregiver training, and insufficient infrastructure investment.

Rana underscored the multiplier effects of care on families, society, and the national economy, urging that investment in the care economy be seen as a pathway to growth and gender equality, not a liability. “Care is a public good,” she affirmed, advocating for a multi-sectoral approach involving policy reform, increased funding, training, and awareness campaigns. She expressed Nepal’s eagerness to adopt global best practices and collaborate with international partners, with representatives from UN Women, UNICEF, and UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer-Hamdy present at the forum.