Future Demand for Care in Indonesia, the Philippines & Vietnam
Summary
This report explores the future demand for care in Southeast Asia, focusing on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Led by The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) at the Australian National University, in partnership with Investing in Women, and local research partners, the study addresses knowledge and policy gaps around care systems, with a strong emphasis on promoting gender equality and inclusive economic development.
With the aim of understanding future care demand, this research applies an intersectional feminist lens across three domains of care, including childcare, care for older people, and care for persons with disabilities. Building on an earlier landscape analysis, a mixed methods approach was applied with qualitative and quantitative data collected between October 2024 and August 2025, including 335 participants across interviews, focus groups, and validation workshops. Data was triangulated with secondary data using national and international statistics and policy documents.
This report underscores the urgent need for governments and the private sector to plan for future care demands through a gender-transformative lens. Ultimately, transforming care from an undervalued domestic burden into a recognised pillar of economic and social infrastructure will be essential for fostering resilience, productivity, and equality across the three countries.
The report is originally published on the GIWL website.
Highlights
Key findings of the report include four aspects:
- The future care landscape in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam is shaped by rapid and complex demographic, social, and economic transitions.
- Caregiving remains primarily informal and family-based, shaped by economic necessity, cultural expectations, and limited state support.
- Institutional responses to rising care demand remain uneven but show promising developments.
- Meeting future care demands requires coordinated action from governments, the private sector, and communities, supported by clear policy frameworks and targeted investment.
