Public policies on water provision and early childhood education and care (ECEC): do they reduce and redistribute unpaid work?

Governments need to provide public finance to support services to reduce and redistribute unpaid work. However, while the financial costs of the required public investment are up front and highly visible; the (many) benefits are diffuse, spread over time, and include non-monetary as well as monetary benefits. This article focuses on two experiences from developing countries, in the water sector in Tanzania and early education and child care in Mexico and Chile. These experiences provide us with evidence of impact, enabling activists and policymakers to develop analysis to use in advocacy and policy formulation, including the modes of provision that are more likely to ensure equitable outcomes.