Introduction

The Southern Africa Trust (the Trust) seeks to engage a consultant to conduct a comprehensive feminist analysis of the care economy in Southern Africa, with a specific focus on South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia. This transformative scoping study is grounded in the concept of “Seriti” – a Southern African principle that embodies the spirit of care and recognizes every individual’s intrinsic worth and dignity. This is embodied in the Trust’s current strategy and centres care in all the interventions and programming by the Trust. The study will examine the intersections of care work, gender justice, economic development, and climate resilience, with particular attention to informal economies, social protection systems, and community-based care structures.

Background and Context

The Southern Africa Trust recognizes that the care economy represents a critical but undervalued pillar of regional development. According to UN Women’s 2023 Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Snapshot report and the UNDP Human Development Report 2023/24, time-use surveys across the focus countries show women spend between 3-6 hours per day on unpaid care work, compared to 0.5-1 hour for men. In Malawi, the National Statistical Office’s 2022 Time Use Survey indicates women spend an average of 6.3 hours per day on unpaid care work.
The monetary value of women’s unpaid care work is estimated to be between 13-35% of GDP in our focus countries (ILO Care Work and Care Jobs Report 2023), yet it remains unrecognized in national accounts. This invisibility is particularly pronounced in the region’s enclave economies, which primarily recognize formal sector contributions while excluding the large informal sector where care work predominantly sits.

The region faces multiple intersecting challenges that impact care provision:

1. Economic Exclusion: Women’s ability to engage in paid work is severely limited, contributing to lower labour force participation rates around 55% compared to 70% for men in the region according to the World Bank Gender Data Portal 2023.
2. Infrastructure Gaps: There is a severe shortage of infrastructure that would support care work redistribution at household, market, and state levels.
3. Formalisation of Care Work: Formal care work is frequently undervalued and underpaid, with remuneration often significantly lower than that of most other professions.
4. Climate Change: Environmental stresses are increasing care burdens, particularly in rural areas.
5. Migration Patterns: Cross-border and rural-urban migration significantly affects family care arrangements.
6. Social Protection: Limited coverage for care workers in both formal and informal sectors.
7. COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic has exacerbated care burdens and exposed system vulnerabilities.
8. Demographic Shifts: A growing elderly population requires enhanced care services while youth unemployment remains high.

Through its economic justice portfolio, the Trust has consistently worked to address systemic inequalities and promote inclusive development. This study builds on existing Trust’s initiatives in social protection, gender equality, and regional integration, while specifically examining care economy dynamics as the Trust expands its Economic Justice portfolio of work to zoom in and out on Care Justice work.

Purpose and Objectives

The primary purpose is to conduct a feminist political economy analysis of Southern Africa’s care economy to inform policy and practice. The study aims to:

1. Map and analyse care economy structures across the five focus countries, with particular attention to informal and cross-border dimensions.
2. Examine intersections between care work, climate justice, and economic justice.
3. Assess social protection systems’ adequacy for care workers and identify infrastructure gaps.
4. Evaluate economic contribution of unpaid care work and its impact on national economies.
5. Document indigenous and community-based care practices through decolonial knowledge production approaches.
6. Document best practices in care worker collective action.
7. Identify opportunities for care economy transformation and movement building.
8. Develop policy recommendations for care-centred economic development.
9. Give direction in the need support for care worker organizing and network building.

Scope of Work

The scope of work encompasses four key areas:

1. Regional Analysis and Mapping (aligned with ACE 2023 framework).

• Care Infrastructure and Services.
• Care-Related Social Protection.
• Care-Supporting Labor Market Policies.
•  Macroeconomic Environment.
• Migration and Care Work.
• Climate Change and Care.
• Care Worker Organization and Representation.
• Data and Measurement Systems.

2. Stakeholder Engagement and Movement Building.

• Map and engage diverse stakeholders including:
• Care workers (formal and informal).
• Care recipients and their families.
• Traditional leaders and community structures.
• Youth organizations and movements.
• Women’s rights organizations.
• Trade unions and worker associations.
• Social protection advocates.
• Government institutions.
• SADC secretariat and relevant departments.
• Regional economic communities.
• Development partners and donors.

3. Feminist Research and Knowledge Generation.

• Apply decolonial feminist research methodologies.
• Conduct participatory action research.
• Document indigenous care practices and traditional knowledge.
• Analyse gender dynamics in care provision.
• Examine intersectional inequalities.
• Generate case studies and best practices.
• Develop policy briefs and advocacy materials.
• Adapt and contextualize existing UN frameworks for valuing care work to the Southern African context.

4. Policy Analysis and Recommendations

• Review existing care-related policies in the five focus countries.
• Analyse budget allocations and expenditure in relation to care work support.
• Assess policy implementation gaps.
• Identify best practices and innovations.
• Proffer strategies for strengthening movement building.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Create implementation roadmap for the Trust Care Justice Sub-portfolio.
• Design strategies for infrastructure development to support care workers.

Methodology

The study will employ a mixed-methods and must demonstrate feminist research approach including but not limited to:
Desk Review

• Literature review and policy analysis of existing efforts.
• Review of international protocols and trends.
• Analysis of existing frameworks and their application in Southern African context.

Quantitative Methods:

• Household surveys.
• Time-use studies.
• Economic valuation of unpaid care.
• Gender-responsive budget analysis.
• Social protection coverage analysis.

Qualitative Methods:

• Participatory action research.
• Feminist narrative inquiry.
• Case study development.
• Key informant interviews.
• Focus group discussions.
• Community dialogues.
• Stakeholder consultations.

Participatory Approaches:

• Community-led research.
• Story telling.
• Participatory mapping.
• Youth-led/ female led inquiries.
• Traditional knowledge documentation.

Implementation Timeline and Key Checkpoints

Total Duration: Eight (8) weeks (February 2 – March 29, 2025).

Key Checkpoint: 

Note: Each checkpoint will include a progress review meeting with the Trust team to ensure alignment, timely and quality deliverables.

Deliverables

The consultant will be required to submit the following deliverables:

Inception Phase:

• Detailed methodology.
• Research tools.
• Stakeholder engagement plan.
• Work plan and timeline.

Research Phase:

• Progress reports.
• Field research reports.
• Case study documentation.
• Stakeholder consultation reports.

Analysis Phase:

• Draft comprehensive report.
• Policy analysis papers.
• Economic analysis report.
• Regional comparison study.

Final Phase:

• Final comprehensive report.
• Executive summary.
• Policy briefs.
• Presentation materials.
• Implementation roadmap.
• Advocacy strategy.

Required Qualifications

The ideal consultant/team should possess:

1. Advanced degree in relevant field (Economics, Statistics, Gender Studies, Development
   Studies).
2. Minimum 10 years’ experience in feminist research and analysis.
3. Strong expertise in care economy and social protection.
4. Demonstrated experience in participatory research methods.
5. Deep understanding of SADC regional context in line with the economic trends.
6. Proven policy analysis and advocacy experience.
7. Strong networks with regional institutions.
8. Experience in gender-responsive budgeting.
9. Excellent research and writing skills.
10. Proficiency in relevant regional languages.

Application Requirements

Submissions should include:

• A technical and financial proposal.
• Sample of previous work.

Applications should demonstrate strong feminist analysis capabilities and deep understanding of regional care economy dynamics.

Submit to: Applications should be submitted to jmudzviti@southernafricatrust.org and cc
lmasingi@southernafricatrust.org with the subject line: “Consultancy: Care Economy in
Southern Africa “ by 3 February 2025.

The Southern Africa Trust is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
Women and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.