March 2025 – This report by UN Women and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) highlights the need for greater investment in care infrastructure—essential services and facilities like childcare centers, elder care, healthcare, and public transport. It explores how public development banks (PDBs) can address gaps in care services and drive economic growth.
The report highlights examples from eight PDBs that have found innovative ways to fund care-related projects. It outlines five key strategies for PDBs:
- building or upgrading care facilities,
- integrating care needs into infrastructure projects,
- supporting decent jobs in the care sector,
- financing long-term reforms of care systems, and
- funding research for informed policymaking and investment decisions.
With PDBs holding more than USD 23 trillion in assets, the report argues that large-scale investment in care infrastructure is both necessary and possible. By prioritizing care services alongside traditional infrastructure like roads and energy, financial institutions can help create more inclusive, prosperous economies.