The City Hub and Network for Gender Equity

Designing neighbourhood care infrastructure 

The City Hub and Network for Gender Equity (CHANGE) is a global network of municipal governments working together to advance gender equity and build more caring cities. CHANGE supports cities around the world to rethink how essential services are delivered at the neighbourhood level. 

At the heart of this work is the Care Block model, originally developed by the City of Bogotá. Care Blocks are neighborhood hubs that provide integrated support for caregivers and those they care for, co-locating services for children, older adults, and people with disabilities while expanding access to training, health, and economic opportunity for caregivers. CHANGE works with city governments to adapt this model for different local contexts. 

While CHANGE works globally, the current phase of the Care Block initiative focuses on cities in Africa and Southeast Asia, where municipal leaders are exploring how neighbourhood care infrastructure can support women and strengthen urban resilience. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, caregivers in Susan’s Bay are mapping their daily journeys and identifying where time and access to services are lost. This evidence is informing a city-led roadmap that sets out site selection, service mix, governance arrangements, and financing for a pilot Care Block. The model is being developed through collaboration across city departments and aligned with existing planning and service systems, creating a practical pathway for implementation and long term integration. 

Work is now underway to adapt the approach in additional cities, with each location shaping its own version based on local needs. Read more at citieschange.org