MenCare is a global fatherhood campaign active in more than 30 countries on five continents. MenCare's mission is to promote men’s involvement as equitable, nonviolent fathers and caregivers in order to achieve family well-being, gender equality, and better health for mothers, fathers, and children. MenCare aims for men to be allies in supporting women’s social and economic equality, in part by taking on more responsibility for childcare and domestic work. They believe that true equality will only be reached when men are taking on 50 percent of the child care and domestic work around the world.
Eighty percent of men will become fathers in their lifetime, but nearly all men will have the chance to be involved in the life of a child. MenCare strives to support the diversity of fatherhood and caregiving around the world, from fathers in nuclear families, to same-sex families, to men who take on other caregiving roles, such as coaches, brothers, or friends.
Men’s positive involvement in the lives of their partners and children creates a global opportunity for equality, and it benefits women, children, and men themselves. Engaging men as involved fathers can lead to improved maternal and child health, stronger and more equitable partner relations, a reduction in violence against women and children, and lifelong benefits for daughters and sons. Research has shown that men’s involvement as caregivers also has benefits for them: it makes them better fathers, improves their intimate relationships, and enhances their quality of life.
MenCare works at multiple levels to engage individuals, communities, institutions, and policymakers. They work with partner organizations around the world, offering a suite of media resources, educational programming, and advocacy initiatives that can be customized to different countries, languages, and cultural contexts.
MenCare's work is making a difference. Since the global MenCare campaign launched in 2011, more than 25 countries around the world have made the campaign their own. From participation in international conferences like the Clinton Global Initiative and TEDx Barcelona, to being highlighted by the media on issues such as men’s engagement in prenatal health visits and paid parental leave policies, MenCare is receiving global attention. Through innovative programming, community-driven and global campaigns, and targeted advocacy, the campaign has reached millions of individuals and changed the lives of people around the world.
MenCare is coordinated by Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice in collaboration with its steering committee: the MenEngage Alliance, Save the Children, and Rutgers. They also work in collaboration with women’s rights groups, local and national governments, United Nations agencies, and other organizations. MenCare is generously funded by the Bernard Van Leer Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Sida, Oak Foundation, Summit Foundation, United Nations Population Fund, and UN Women.