07.05.2026

Care Policy Handbook for Local Governments Published

The Care Policy Handbook for Local Governments, prepared by Marmara Municipalities Union, has been published. The handbook offers a framework for local governments to design care services through a rights-based, inclusive, and sustainable approach by addressing the social and economic dimensions of care work.

Care is one of the most fundamental and indispensable forms of labor that sustains everyday life — from feeding a baby to holding the hand of a loved one in need, from cooking to cleaning. Yet today, this vital process continues to rest largely on the shoulders of women, while societies face a deepening care crisis.

Prepared by Marmara Municipalities Union, the Care Policy Handbook for Local Governments aims to provide guidance for transforming care from a matter of household responsibility into a public policy area that is equal, accessible, and high-quality for everyone.

The handbook includes:

A glossary to help readers navigate the field with the right concepts,
Data on the scale of unpaid care work and its impact on social inequalities,
A comprehensive solution framework based on the International Labour Organization’s 5R Framework (Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward, and Represent),
Recommendations for designing “care-sensitive” cities, from childcare centers and elderly care facilities to accessible transportation and home-care services,
Inspiring examples of good practices from Türkiye.

The handbook is designed as both a reference and implementation resource aimed at making care work visible and redistributing it more fairly at the local level. It seeks to support policymakers, local governments, civil society organizations, and all relevant stakeholders in developing care-centered local policies.

To access the handbook: Care Policy Handbook for Local Government