At the first global ILO Innovation Day on 3 March 2026, South4Care stood out as a powerful example of how innovation can turn global commitments into practical change.
Presented by Laura Addati and Anita Amorim, South4Care showcased a new way of accelerating progress in the care economy — combining a digital knowledge platform with structured peer learning and South–South and Triangular Cooperation.
The message was clear: care is not a side issue. It is foundational to decent work, gender equality, and social justice.
South4Care addresses two urgent realities:
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Millions are excluded from the labour market due to unpaid care responsibilities.
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Care workers themselves often lack decent work conditions.
Through the ILO Global Care Policy Portal and Learning Hubs delivered with ITCILO, South4Care moves beyond isolated pilots. It connects governments and social partners, makes real practices visible and searchable, and supports countries in turning examples into implementable reforms.
Early results already show momentum — thousands of global visits to the platform and strong participation in the first Learning Hub in Doha, with further regional editions underway.
By embedding social dialogue, international labour standards, and the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work, South4Care demonstrates how innovation at the ILO is not about technology alone — it is about scaling what works, fostering cooperation, and helping countries move faster together toward decent work in and through the care economy.