June 2024 – This paper published by Oxfam examines the concept of care infrastructure, focusing on six case studies in Kenya, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, the United States, and Zimbabwe. It identifies six components of care infrastructure: physical infrastructure, knowledge production, community networks, national care frameworks, public financing, social protection, and public care services. These components vary across countries due to factors like time use, national laws, and civil society mobilization. The paper emphasizes the need to consider the local context of care interventions and the responsibilities of different social actors, including communities, civil society, the state, and the private sector, in supporting care infrastructure. The paper also highlights ongoing debates about the state’s role in supporting and investing in care infrastructure and advancing care as a right or public good.