Challenges

In Latin America, unpaid caregivers – mostly women – face structural invisibility, emotional and physical exhaustion, and limited access to support systems. Public policies rarely include them, and their voices are often absent from decision – making spaces. In disaster – prone regions, there are no targeted strategies to protect or support caregivers during emergencies. This initiative responds to these challenges by promoting caregiver leadership, community resilience, and regional collaboration through monthly virtual roundtables and co-creation of a Caregivers’ Resilience Project. Implemented between Chile and Mexico , it highlights the urgent need to recognize care work as central to social protection systems, disasters preparedness, and sustainable development. Addressing this challenge is essential for achieving SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 3 (health and well – being), SDG (reduced inequalities), and SDG 11 (resilient communities), among others. The project calls for inclusive policies, resource allocation, and South-South cooperation to strengthen care systems across the region.

Toward a Solution

The initiative led by Fundación MUDECU (Chile) in collaboration with Bimestral A.C. (Mexico) aims to address the invisibility, emotional overload, and exclusion of unpaid caregivers—primarily women—from public policy, social protection systems, and disaster preparedness frameworks. Through a South-South cooperation model, the project seeks to build collective resilience, foster leadership among caregivers, and contribute to the recognition of care work as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The initiative directly supports SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The methodology is based on the implementation of monthly virtual roundtables—safe and participatory spaces where caregivers across Latin America, particularly from Chile and Mexico, share experiences, co-create strategies for self-care, and raise awareness about the realities of unpaid care work. These sessions follow a rights-based, gender-sensitive, and culturally relevant approach, integrating emotional support, knowledge exchange, and advocacy capacity-building. The online format allows for broad participation using low-cost technologies such as Zoom and WhatsApp, increasing accessibility for caregivers who often have limited time and mobility due to their responsibilities.

The process was highly participatory. MUDECU and Bimestral A.C. co-designed the sessions, identified priority topics with input from caregivers, and facilitated dialogues in a horizontal and inclusive manner. Voluntary caregivers led sessions, shared testimonies, and contributed to the design of the “Caregivers’ Resilience to Disasters Project”—a community-based response plan that includes psychosocial support, training in disaster risk reduction, and the creation of territorial support networks. The cooperation model embraced principles of mutual respect, shared leadership, and decentralized knowledge.

This initiative enabled the transfer of knowledge, experiences, and practices between Chile and Mexico, reinforcing the value of South-South cooperation in tackling development challenges that transcend national boundaries. Caregiving is a transnational issue, especially in Latin America where gendered expectations and social inequities persist. By connecting caregivers across countries and fostering mutual learning, the initiative has built a community of practice that inspires similar actions in other regions. Participation in the UNDRR-UNOSSC-PAHO/WHO 2025 training further positioned the project within global frameworks for disaster resilience and urban health.

Outcomes include the facilitation of over 10 virtual roundtables with participants from Chile, Mexico, and other Latin American countries; the consolidation of a network of caregiver-led grassroots initiatives; and the co-design of a comprehensive resilience project. Caregivers involved in the initiative have participated in national advocacy spaces, such as Chile’s Congressional Finance Commission and municipal consultations for care system reforms. Though primarily qualitative, these outcomes represent critical steps toward SDG target 5.4 (recognizing unpaid care work), target 3.4 (mental health and well-being), and target 11.b (inclusive disaster resilience).

The innovation of the practice lies in its hybrid model of emotional care, political advocacy, and digital connectivity across borders. It improves the “competitive advantage” of countries by strengthening community preparedness, reducing vulnerabilities in emergencies, and enabling social cohesion through care-based leadership. The initiative also positions caregivers as agents of change, rather than beneficiaries of aid.

The sustainability of the practice relies on its strong community base, low-cost methodology, and growing institutional recognition. While funding remains a challenge, the initiative has gained visibility among public authorities and civil society networks. MUDECU is currently pursuing partnerships and funding opportunities to formally implement the Caregivers’ Resilience Project and scale the roundtable model regionally. It has also fostered dialogues with municipal governments and international networks such as the UNOSSC Cities Cluster on Resilience.

Replicability is high, given the adaptable and digital nature of the methodology. To ensure effective replication, it is essential to involve local caregiver groups, ensure access to digital tools, and adopt a participatory and culturally sensitive framework. MUDECU and Bimestral are developing a toolkit to guide the adaptation of the model in other contexts.

Key lessons learned include the importance of emotional support in sustaining civic participation; the transformative power of peer-led networks; and the value of South-South cooperation in addressing care-related vulnerabilities. By connecting communities across borders and centering care in resilience strategies, this initiative offers a scalable path toward inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development.