We reviewed over 200 businesses worldwide*, and have identified over 165 businesses operating in the care economy across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia who met the following 4 criteria:
1. Geography focus: operating in project target countries.
2. Care economy impact: business activities recognize, reduce, reward or redistribute care work.
3. Proof of concept: care economy activities at least at the launch stage (none of the businesses are at concept stage).
4. Market-based intervention: already or planning to be financially profitable or to generate income in the medium term.
Out of the mapping we selected 60 businesses to conduct a full profile and showcase potential investment opportunities. These profiles have been created from information and data provided by the business itself. Use the filter on the left to access the businesses profiled.
* Disclaimer: The data presented in the business mapping and profiles is based on information provided by the businesses and has not been independently verified
1. Geography focus: operating in project target countries.
2. Care economy impact: business activities recognize, reduce, reward or redistribute care work.
3. Proof of concept: care economy activities at least at the launch stage (none of the businesses are at concept stage).
4. Market-based intervention: already or planning to be financially profitable or to generate income in the medium term.
Out of the mapping we selected 60 businesses to conduct a full profile and showcase potential investment opportunities. These profiles have been created from information and data provided by the business itself. Use the filter on the left to access the businesses profiled.
* Disclaimer: The data presented in the business mapping and profiles is based on information provided by the businesses and has not been independently verified
Aqua Clara Kenya
Website: www.aquaclara.org
Headquarters: United States of America
Country of Operations: Kenya
Women owned / led: At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Aqua Clara is a non-profit entity that provide communities with affordable, easy-to use filters, so they can access safe water at home. Aqua Clara’s products are used by households, schools and health centres. The entity’s products have reduced care work as families no longer have to boil water over smoky fires to remove impurities. This has not only reduced illnesses but also has reduced the time and money spent on collecting and buying fuel.
Stage of Growth: Established/Mature
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products
Pathway to impact: Reduce
Asistta
Website: www.asistta.com
Headquarters: Colombia
Country of Operations: Colombia
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Asistta is a Colombian platform that connects health professionals with users who require home services, medicine administration, physiotherapy, respiratory therapy, psychological services, nutrition, speech therapy, and nursing. Around 90% of its workforce are women. The Asistta platform is focused on supporting informal caregivers to enter the economy through an academic support network. In addition, it provides caregivers with the necessary training to enter the labor market by giving them the possibility of learning from home.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Infant-care (children younger than 1-year), Elderly-care (Ages 60 and above), Care for persons with special needs (disabled / differently abled persons), Care for people with illnesses
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers (e.g. technology that links employers to domestic/care workers), Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve condition for domestic & care worker (e.g. apps that calculate decent remuneration), Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work (e.g. affordable daycare services in rural areas)
Pathway to impact: Reward, Redistribute
Ayasan
Website: ayasan.vn/aboutus
Headquarters: Thailand
Country of Operations: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos
Women owned / led: At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Ayasan is a for-profit company that provides personnel for housework and care work to its customers. It is operational in Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand and provides personnel for a range of services, such as nannies, tutors, chauffeurs, and caregivers to the elderly. It also provides upskilling and certification to care-givers and provides them opportunities for continued employment.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Domestic services
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers
Pathway to impact: Reduce, Reward
BURN Manufacturing
Website: burnstoves.com
Headquarters: Kenya
Country of Operations: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Somaliland, Somalia, Tanzania, DRC, South Sudan, Puntland, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi, Australia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Canada, Germany, Ivory Coast, India, Thailand, Malawi
Women owned / led: At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: BURN is a for-profit company that manufactures affordable clean cookstoves for households in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, BURN has sold over 1.2 million stoves. BURN’s cookstoves save money, fuel and time for its customers and help reduce harmful indoor smoke emissions which can cause significant health problems. The company’s products are instrumental in reducing the burden of collecting firewood, which typically falls on women, and potentially exposes them to risk of physical and sexual violence.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products
Pathway to impact: Reduce
Corporación Unión Cristal – IMA Limpia
Website: imalimpia.com
Headquarters: Colombia
Country of Operations: Colombia
Women owned / led: At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: IMA Limpia is a social enterprise administratively and operationally led by women who have served as domestic workers, perform cleaning, care, cooking, and washing jobs. These women are certified in the professionalization of domestic service and have access to social security and other benefits that improve their lives. Their priority is the human being, both within the organization and abroad, seeking a warm, responsible, and reliable service.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Infant-care (children younger than 1-year), Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Child-care (Ages 6 and above), Elderly-care (Ages 60 and above), Domestic services, Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers (e.g. technology that links employers to domestic/care workers), Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve condition for domestic & care worker (e.g. apps that calculate decent remuneration), Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products (e.g. product that makes washing, cooking more efficient), Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work (e.g. affordable daycare services in rural areas)
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reduce, Reward
Eau et Vie
Website: www.eauetvie.fr
Headquarters: France
Country of Operations: Bangladesh, Philippines
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Eau et Vie is a non-profit that develops water networks in slum areas to provide affordable and sustainable tap water at home. The organization is able to serve tap water in locations where operators of municipal systems are unable to reach. This enables time savings for women and reduces drudgery in accessing water from inconvenient locations. Furthermore, it not only promotes urban inclusion but also has impacts on aspects such as hygiene (personal and menstrual), fire-fighting, waste management and sanitation.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Domestic services, Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve conditions for domestic & care worker
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reduce
Green Girls Organisation
Website: www.greengirlsorganisation.org
Headquarters: Cameroon
Country of Operations: Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC
Women owned / led: At least 51% owned by women, Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% women in board of directors
About the organization: Green Girls Organization is a non-profit organization that trains women and girls across African rural communities on generating energy from the sun and waste. The entity create markets for these women to sell the solar lanterns and organic fertiliser obtained from the biodigesters. Through its work, the entity helps women make their lives safer, healthier and more secure, by providing access to livelihoods and through the provision of clean energy to customers. Its products reduce the time spent by women on domestic work.
Stage of Growth: Established/Mature
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers
Pathway to impact: Reduce
Happy Helpers
Website: happyhelpers.ph
Headquarters: Philippines
Country of Operations: Philippines
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Happy Helpers is a for-profit, women-led enteprise that provides domestic cleaning services to households and companies in Manila, Philippinnes. These services are provided through a team of locally trained and hired domestic workers. The service provided by Happy Helpers reduces the time spent by women on cleaning at home. It also increase recognition of work done by domestic workers. Happy Helpers has led to increase in income, skills and efficiency among domestic workers.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Domestic services
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work
Pathway to impact: Reduce, Reward
Hasu
Website: hasuapp.vn/tam-nhin-su-menh-hasu
Headquarters: Vietnam
Country of Operations: Vietnam
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Hasu is a for-profit start-up in Vietnam that caters to the physical, mental and emotional needs of elderly. Through the app, Hasu aims to aggregate the various services that are required by elderly people. It services include nursing, nutrition, games and exercises. The business contributes to the redistribution and reduction of care work within households, as well as greater digital awareness and technology use amongst the elderly.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Elderly-care (Ages 60 and above)
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work
Pathway to impact: Reduce, Redistribute
HIPOCAMPUS
Website: www.hipocampus.mx
Headquarters: Mexico
Country of Operations: Mexico
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Hipocampus is a social enterprise that provides high-quality and affordable early childhood care and education for working families in Mexico. Hipocampus partners with employers to provide on-site childcare services fully aligned with parents´ needs. With a B2B business and distribution model, Hipocampus operates under a community-centered approach (ie. providing opportunities to educators-mostly women- from the same communities where the centers operate.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Child-care (Ages 6 and above)
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers (e.g. technology that links employers to domestic/care workers), Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work (e.g. affordable daycare services in rural areas)
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute
I.A.B. – Institut Academic of Babies
Website: www.iab-afrique.com
Headquarters: Senegal
Country of Operations: Senegal
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: I.A.B is a social business that trains care workers in early childhood care. In Senegal, day care centers are not regulated and there is no school that is specifically focused on training related early childhood. As a result, children are less likely to go to nurseries. Through it’s training programs I.A.B has increased the skills of childcare workers, resulting in higher incomes for these workers. I.A.B’s impact includes improved health conditions among toddlers, decent work opportunties for care workers, and increased productivity of parents who are assured that the care and development of their children is in expert hands.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Infant-care (children younger than 1-year), Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Domestic services
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reward
Instituto de Promoción y Formación de Trabajadoras del Hogar IPROFOTH
Website: facebook.com/IprofothPeru
Headquarters: Peru
Country of Operations: Peru
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: IPROFOTH is a Peruvian organization made up and directed 100% by women domestic workers. They offer nursery services for caring for and stimulating children of care workers. The most vulnerable care and domestic workers, mostly migrant women, receive shelter services, training, job placement guidance, and labor rights protection. IPROFOTH’s main challenge is to raise awareness in the recognition and appreciation of the contribution made by women in the care economy. They seek to improve the quality of life of domestic workers, empowering them via good compensations, resilience strategies, and recognition of their contribution to the care economy. Iprofoth’s political action and articulation with civil society pushed the ratification of the International Labor Office’s Convention 189 and the approval of a new law for domestic workers in Peru.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Child-care (Ages 6 and above), Domestic services
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers (e.g. technology that links employers to domestic/care workers), Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve condition for domestic & care worker (e.g. apps that calculate decent remuneration), Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work (e.g. affordable daycare services in rural areas), Awareness raising on the care economy through marketing, information campaigns & programmes that raise awareness & increase motivation
Pathway to impact: #N/A
Isla Urbana
Website: islaurbana.org
Headquarters: Mexico
Country of Operations: Mexico
Women owned / led: Information not available
About the organization: Isla Urbana is a company that strives to make rainwater harvesting an autonomous, sustainable, and resilient alternative for the water supply of the most vulnerable. Its principal goal is to promote sustainable development in water based on rainwater harvesting. Isla Urbana’s main challenge is to create solutions to reduce the amount of time spent on care and domestic work. Its main motivation is that their country (Mexico) is going through a water crisis and millions of people lack dignified and safe access to this service.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve condition for domestic & care worker (e.g. apps that calculate decent remuneration), Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products (e.g. product that makes washing, cooking more efficient)
Pathway to impact: Reduce
LivelyHoods Kenya
Website: www.livelyhoods.org
Headquarters: Kenya
Country of Operations: Kenya
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Livelyhoods Kenya is a non-profit social enterprise that provides last-mile distribution of essential items in slum communities of Kenya. Livelyhoods Kenya trains women who work as sales agents in the community. Through its intervention, Livelyhoods has enabled women to purchase products that have reduced their care work, including cookstove and solar lights. Adoption of these products has reduced household expenditures and drudgery for women.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Domestic services, Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work
Pathway to impact: Reduce, Reward
Nazava Water Filters
Website: www.nazava.com
Headquarters: Indonesia
Country of Operations: Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Nazava is a for-profit enterprise that produces affordable gravity based ceramic household water filters, replacing the need to boil water on wood or LPG. It reduces care work as women save 139 hours per year on boiling and collecting fuel using the water filters. Nazava purified water is 3 times cheaper than boiling and 9 times cheaper than buying water from refill-kiosks.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products
Pathway to impact: Reduce
Strong Start
Website: www.strongstart.co.ke
Headquarters: Kenya
Country of Operations: Kenya
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Strong Start is a for-profit company that provides caregivers and domestic staff in Kenya with technical skills training in early childhood development, household management, self advocacy and job search training. It connects with caregivers and domestic staff through community micropods and blended trainings to support them in advancing their technical and advocacy skills at their workplaces. The enterprise has trained 144 caregivers via live blended trainings and worked with 634 caregivers in micropod & playgroup programs. The company’s services not only reduce the burden of care work but also upskill caregivers and domestic workers.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Infant-care (children younger than 1-year), Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Domestic services
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology & services that train/upskill domestic & care workers
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reward
The Baby Lounge
Website: www.thebabylounge.com.ng
Headquarters: Nigeria
Country of Operations: Nigeria
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% of women in senior leadership, At least 30% of women in Board of Directors
About the organization: The Baby Lounge is an end-to-end childcare service solutions provider in Nigeria. This for-profit company offers weekend care, after school home assistance and tutoring, office care and in-house childcare services for working parents of infants, toddlers and young children.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Child-care (Ages 1 to 5), Child-care (Ages 6 and above)
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work
Pathway to impact: Redistribute, Reduce, Reward
Tierra Grata
Website: tierragrata.org/en/home
Headquarters: Colombia
Country of Operations: Colombia
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 30% of women in the Board of Directors
About the organization: It’s a social enterprise that provides access to clean energy, drinking water, and safe sanitation. They design solutions adjusted to rural contexts accompanied by a social intervention process. Tierra Grata’s mission is to accelerate the productivity and economic growth of rural families through access to basic services. They expect to contribute to time reduction in care work and the redistribution of domestic activities to third parties.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable time and labour saving technology and products (e.g. product that makes washing, cooking more efficient)
Pathway to impact: Reduce
Uthabiti Africa
Website: www.uthabitiafrica.org
Headquarters: Kenya
Country of Operations: Kenya
Women owned / led: At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Uthabiti is a for-profit entity that exists to accelerate early childhood care, education and development (ECCED) in Africa. It accelerates access to quality and affordable childcare services for all. The organization redistributes care and domestic work by coordinate collaboration among childcare actors, facilitates organizing of childcare entrepreneurs and service providers; as well as influences creation of an enabling policy environment that supports child care enterprises and the childcare workforce to thrive. In 2021, the entity has also set up a non-profit entity.
Stage of Growth: Small scale roll-out/Early stage
Types of Services: Infant-care (children younger than 1-year), Child-care (Ages 1 to 5)
Activities in the care economy: Provision of technology, services & policies/practice that improve conditions for domestic & care worker
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reward, Redistribute
Xalco Ltd – Trading as “UJUZI FURSA AFRICA” “HOMECARE360” “COMFORTCARE360”
Website: www.homecare-360.com
Headquarters: Kenya
Country of Operations: Kenya, South Sudan
Women owned / led: Founded by at least one woman, At least 51% owned by women, At least 30% women in senior leadership positions, At least 30% of women in board of directors
About the organization: Xalco Ltd is a social enterprise that trains and certifies caregivers in Kenya and South Sudan. Its services include provision home health care services such as asssitance to daily living, companionship to elders, post operation/surgery patients, mentally ill elders, among others. The enterprise leverages an online platform to connect caregivers to customers. Its services not only reduce the burden of care work but also provide trainings to caregivers.
Stage of Growth: Mass roll-out/Expansion
Types of Services: Elderly-care (Ages 60 and above), Care for persons with special needs (disabled / differently abled persons), Care for people with illnesses, Labour saving solutions
Activities in the care economy: Provision of affordable services that provide care & domestic work
Pathway to impact: Recognize, Reward, Redistribute