Local community leaders have expressed their appreciation for the results of a study aimed at reducing and redistributing the burden of unpaid care work (UCW) that falls primarily on women. Leaders from the districts of Mpigi, Masindi, Mbarara, and Pallisa reported noticeable changes in their households and communities due to the three-year study, which provided interventions to alleviate the UCW burden.
Conducted by a consortium led by Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies, Care International in Uganda, and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), the research revealed shifts in attitudes and behaviours among men regarding their support for women in domestic and care tasks. Previously, many men viewed such involvement as demeaning in the eyes of their peers
The study was carried out in four districts of Mpigi, Masindi, Mbarara, and Pallisa. Engagements with local and cultural leaders have gone to as far as Hoima where the principal investigator Prof Grace Bantebya-Kyomuhendo has engaged with Bunyoro Kitara-Kingdom on the outcomes.
The study tested a new model dubbed the P.O.W.E.R model, which looked at wholistic interventions – from promoting women and girls’ economic and political empowerment; engaging men and boys to challenge inequitable social norms and practices; facilitating community dialogue; and engaging local level duty bearers.
Results from the study show that in areas where P.O.W.E.R was implemented in its entirety, it reduced women’s time spent on unpaid care work and increased their time on paid activities. There was a noticeable increase in men’s involvement in community activities such as village meetings, school parents’ teachers’ meetings among others.
Comparisons from the intervention areas and control areas at the end of the project showed that in the former, men recognized women as worthy contributors to family well-being and there was evidence that some started to participate in engaging in care work at home. In control areas, when participants were not engaged, time women spent on UCW went up.
Participants at the Mpigi district dissemination on August 22, 2024
A female participant said: “The change that I see is my a man [now] helps me with even washing clothes when I am busy. He is doing something. I have gained [from the intervention] because even when I would fall sick, he wouldn’t help but since [after being trained], he has been behaving well”.
In Pallisa, Mr. George Onyait, the Senior Labour Officer, said the project had opened the eyes of the communities. He said: “It is the responsibility of us men to support our wives, and we must support them for the sake of development in our homes and country. If women are supported in unpaid care work, you will discover that there is development.”
Aliko Jane Frances, a Kadasoko resident Pallisa, said: “We are honoured that our community benefited from the training on unpaid care work. People come into our homes, asking us how we have changed. We have become teachers to our community. My prayer is that this project should continue – and it will sharpen our community [even more].”
Okia John, the principal assistant to the CAO, Pallisa, said: “As a district we are going to help to ensure what has been achieved is sustained. We want to pray that you continue supporting us as a district. We are ready to sign MOUs with you to ensure that the transformation is sustained”
In Mbarara, the district woman MP Hon. Ayebare Margaret, applauded the intervention and said one of the things that make families lag are things like UCW where the burden falls on one person.
“Unpaid care work is not recognized as work and yet it is very important in supporting households. We must recognize that unpaid care work is also work. Secondly, we must also distribute this work amongst household members.”
Participants in Pallisa listen to the district official during the study dissemination.
The district community development officer for Lubaaya in Bwizibwera, Mbarara Onesmus Musinguzi said: “This study has been so useful that it has helped me to teach my own people the importance of sharing care work within households. I encourage whoever is here to pay attention and carry out these important practices.”
The meetings in the districts in Mbarara, Pallisa, Mpigi, and Masindi were attended by community, religious and cultural leaders, political leaders. The study was supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.