Program
Championing Care Economy Reform
To meet Malaysia’s growing care needs, our care economy initiative helps improve childcare, eldercare, and disability care and strengthen women’s economic participation.
Malaysia’s growing demand for childcare, eldercare, and disability care has significant implications for women’s workforce participation and economic growth.
What began as an effort to improve childcare and help women remain in the workforce has evolved into a broader agenda to strengthen the country’s care economy.
Through the Australia-Malaysia Reform Partnership, The Asia Foundation supports policy reform, coalition building, and government-led action to improve care services, develop the care workforce, and expand women’s economic participation. This work has helped establish care as both a social priority and an essential part of Malaysia’s economic development. With support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the initiative has expanded over six years from a focus on childcare to a more comprehensive approach encompassing eldercare and disability care.
Impact
Bringing together government, civil society, private sector, and development partners to build momentum for care economy reform.
Establishing the country’s first national framework for childcare, eldercare, and disability care.
Elevating care as a national economic and social policy priority.
TAF brought together 200+ policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and advocates at the 2025 care economy conference to launch Malaysia’s national framework and strengthen ASEAN dialogue on care policy and workforce development.
Creating the first comprehensive state-level care economy framework in Malaysia.
APPROACH
The Asia Foundation has played a unique role as a trusted convener, bringing together government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and global experts to advance Malaysia’s care economy agenda.
Through national dialogues, policy co-creation, state-level reforms, and ASEAN engagement, the program has helped move care from awareness raising to policy adoption and implementation. Current efforts focus on strengthening the care workforce, particularly for eldercare and home-based services, while supporting coordination across national, state, and regional institutions.
Featured Video
Care Economy Dialogue
Toward a Resilient and Sustainable Care Economy in Malaysia