It needs to become accepted practice that programmes organized to improve the productivity, participation and welfare of women also take the needs of their young children into account. Similarly, programmes directed toward the development of young children need to routinely address their family's circumstances. Programmes of adequate child care can be built using local experience and capacity, responding to local needs with community -based approaches. This generally requires a subsidy from outside the community. In such programs the goals of quality and local ownership of the program must be consistently reinforced.
Child care is both a social investment and an area of income-generation.
It is important that those who work in child care jobs be provided with proper pay and benefits, and be recognized for their contributions to their community. Child care is a whole-community responsibility. Although women are traditional care-takers, men and elders need to be invested in young children too. Ways should be explored to integrate men and elders into the provision of care for young children, and to promote greater participation of women and men at all levels of decision-making that affect young children. Domestic labour, including child care, supports the fabric of a society.