A central part of UNDP narrative on gender is that women's empowerment is an attractive incentive for governments simply because women form a major resource base of a country. Women’s participation in the economy often leads to better education and health outcomes for children, as they tend to invest more than men in their families. This contributes to the well-being of the whole nation.

However, the disproportionate distribution of unpaid care responsibility, based on biased social norms and gender stereotypes, often reinforces gender inequalities by restricting women’s opportunity to pursue educational, economic and employment goals outside of their homes. Mainstreaming the care economy through investments and solutions can have a plethora of positive effects on people's lives and the economy. It can lead to innovation and de-stigmatization of care services, leading to professionalizing the care industry and generating employment and contribution of the care sector to GDP.