Overview

The report “Improved Quality of Life and Income of Ethnic Minority Women Starts from The Recognition and Reduction of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work” was developed under the project Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment of Ethnic Minority Women in Viet Nam (AWEEV), funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by CARE International in Viet Nam and partners in Lai Chau and Ha Giang provinces from 2021 to 2023.

The report documents the design and implementation of the project component focusing on unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW) — a significant barrier limiting ethnic minority women’s effective participation in income-generating activities. The project applied the 3R framework (Recognize – Reduce – Redistribute) to shift social norms, decrease women’s time burden, and promote men’s engagement in sharing care responsibilities.

Drawing on baseline surveys, impact assessments, and participatory data collection methods, the report analyzes the burden of unpaid care work, presents evidence-based intervention design, and captures early changes in perceptions, time allocation, and women’s participation in income-generating activities.

After one year of implementation, results indicate positive shifts in gender norms, reduced time spent by women on unpaid care work, increased male engagement in care responsibilities, and expanded time available for women to pursue income-generating activities.

 

Key findings

  • At baseline, ethnic minority women spent nearly twice as much time on unpaid care and domestic work as men.

  • The estimated economic value of unpaid care work performed by women was equivalent to approximately 52.4% of total household income.

  • Following the intervention, women’s time spent on unpaid care work decreased by 16% (around 48 minutes per day).

  • Men’s time spent on unpaid care work increased by 17% (around 30 minutes per day).

  • 29.3% of women reported a perceived reduction in their care workload compared to before the project.

  • Women’s time spent on income-generating activities increased by nearly three hours per day (from 8.2 hours to 11 hours).

  • Agreement with stereotypes such as “women should do housework” decreased significantly among women, men, and local officials.

  • 648 children gained access to semi-boarding services and improved school infrastructure, contributing to reduced direct caregiving time for women.

  • 1,323 households received banana slicing machines, significantly reducing time spent preparing animal feed.

 

Recommendations

  • Integrate the 3R approach (Recognize – Reduce – Redistribute) into socio-economic development programs in ethnic minority areas.

  • Invest in infrastructure and public services, particularly childcare to reduce women’s unpaid care burden.

  • Promote men’s engagement through community dialogue models and positive role models.

  • Increase the adoption of time-saving tools and technologies adapted to local contexts.

  • Integrate unpaid care and domestic work considerations into local planning and budgeting processes.

  • Continue measuring and recognizing the economic value of unpaid care work to inform policy development.