Our work
Women at the centre of all we do
Credit: Teresa Weaver/CARE
CARE is a global confederation that saves lives, fights poverty and achieves social justice in the world. We do this by putting women and girls at the centre of all we do. We work alongside communities and with partners to understand the root causes of poverty and inequality, and find innovative, locally-led solutions to tackle it.
Why does CARE focus on women and girls?
Because according to the United Nations, it will take 134 years for the world to reach gender equality.
Women and girls don’t have the same rights, access to resources and opportunities, and representation in decision-making as men and boys. Their health and safety needs are often under-resourced or not taken into account at all. This doesn’t just hurt women and girls. It hurts us all.
But when we invest in women and girls and advance their leadership, it creates a ripple effect that goes beyond gender, beyond borders and lasts for generations.
Why gender equality is good for everyone
- Gender equality is a country’s biggest predictor of peace, even more than wealth or political freedom
- Economies grow and thrive when more women have safe and dignified work and have the same opportunities as men—including equal pay for equal work!
- When women and girls have equal access to education, they’re healthier, earn more money, marry at a later age, and if they choose to become mothers, they often have fewer children and their children are usually healthier
- When women and girls can make decisions about their bodies and can access the care and resources they need, they decide if, when and how many children to have, are more likely to have healthy pregnancies and births, and be happier and healthier overall
- When women have equal representation in leadership, research has shown increased collaboration across party lines and support for policies that benefit women, children and families in general
Find out more about our work—and how you can invest in women and help build a better, more equal world:
CARE works alongside communities around the world to break down barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential and achieving their dreams. Very often our staff are from the countries they are working in, and we proudly partner with local groups and organizations who know best what their communities need. This creates impact that lasts for generations.
While our work is focused on women’s and girls’ health, safety, livelihoods, emergency response and advocacy, a lot of what we do intersects across projects and initiatives. Supporting women’s safety is crucial in all aspects of our work. Advocating for women’s rights, leadership and gender equality is key in all we do.
CARE reports
CARE publishes research reports and evaluations regularly, often in collaboration with partners. These reports are generally intended primarily for those working in international development and humanitarian aid and contain useful information on best practices, shared experiences, lessons learned and more.
