After the successful launch of the project to redress unpaid care work in Uganda, the Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies, Economic Policy Research Centre, and Care International in Uganda have completed stakeholders’ mapping.
This paves way for the next phase of the project, which includes fieldwork.
The mapping exercise, held in Kampala, attracted attendees from academia, civil society, and religious community among others, and was intended to identify different influences that the project can tap in to be a success. The project is titled From Promises to Actions: shifting gender norms and public perceptions about unpaid care work in workplaces and families in Uganda and is funded by IDRC, Canada.
Prof. Grace Bantebya-Kyomuhendo, from the SWGS, indicated while presenting the inception report and rationale of the “the project seeks to transform and advance gender equality and the world of work”
Makerere University’s Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine said: “Women should not have to choose between career and unpaid care work at home” Dr. Euzobia represented the Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.

Participants listen in at the stakeholder mapping exercise meeting
She stressed that often, “women are bogged down by unpaid care work but as long as we don’t address this problem the question of women’s advancement will remain a challenge.”
This points to the rationale of the project – to design interventions that seek to actively examine, question, and change the rigid gender and social norms (GSNs) and perceptions to contribute to Recognition, reduction, redistribution, and representation of UCW at all levels of the woman’s socio-ecology.
The Project will also identify impact pathways for shifting attitudes, norms, and behaviours at different levels. Dr Euzobia: “Many times, women are denied opportunities because they are assumed to be bogged down by unpaid care work.”

One of the participants at the stakeholder mapping meeting makes a contribution
The attendees of the stakeholder mapping exercise helped identify influential and willing institutions or individuals that would help in the smooth implementation of the project.