In 2023, APEC took an important step in recognizing the value of unpaid care and published the APEC Embracing Carers Policy Toolkit to Address the Unpaid Care Gap to help all stakeholders better support unpaid carers, most of whom are women.

Building on these efforts, the APEC Embracing Carers project convened stakeholders in 2024 to identify best practices to help economies strengthen their care infrastructure and support unpaid carers as an integral part of health systems. Between June-September 2024, the project organized two virtual workshops to explore policy interventions across the 5R Framework specifically focused on recognition and integration of caregivers into the health systems of APEC economies, thereby improving health outcomes and economic productivity through comprehensive support and acknowledgment of their role.