In March 2021 an APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Policy Dialogue was convened so experts could examine how public and private stakeholders can create a “new normal” that addresses the double burden women face and ensures women are not left behind due to COVID-19.

This document captures key messages from the event subsequently validated through a review of the literature and exchanges with academic experts. The intention of this document is that it will prove a useful resource for gender ministries and other like-minded policymakers to help them make the case for a gender-responsive recovery. The three main areas of focus of the document are: the unpaid care gap, the digital gender divide, and family planning decisions.