Caring forward: Advancing women's livelihoods and addressing care needs for a gender-responsive recovery for Ukraine

This publication examines the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine on gender inequality in Ukraine, particularly concerning livelihoods and care responsibilities for women and girls. Before the invasion, the COVID-19 pandemic had already exacerbated gender disparities, increasing women’s unpaid care work, reducing their income opportunities, and raising risks of gender-based violence. With the full-scale invasion, these issues have intensified, leaving women with heightened resource insecurity and greater burdens in both paid and unpaid roles. In Ukraine and across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, women traditionally shoulder a disproportionate amount of unpaid labor, which limits their economic empowerment. Despite Ukraine’s government efforts to address these inequalities, the war has further strained women, who often serve as both primary caregivers and earners. Additionally, the conflict has disrupted education and childcare services, compounding the challenges women face, both within Ukraine and in refugee-hosting nations. The brief underscores the urgency of prioritizing women’s and girls’ unique needs in Ukraine’s post-conflict recovery, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. It highlights reducing unpaid care work and enhancing social support as critical for empowering women economically. Recommendations focus on integrating gender-sensitive strategies to support sustainable livelihoods and equitable recovery for women and girls in Ukraine.