Enhancing Evidence-Informed Decision-Making for Improved Childcare Ecosystem in Kenya: A Participatory Research and Policy Engagement Initiative

Childcare in Africa, and its connection with women’s economic empowerment remains an understudied topic. Though the link and the connections may be evident, there exists a gap in how policymakers address the two in both policy and practice; childcare and women economic empowerment continue to be addressed as separate programs with little or no consideration on understanding the linkages therein. With our work spanning both spaces, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Africa considers the impetus to explore the linkages between the two by examining the structure of the childcare ecosystem in Kenya with specific focus on women-owned childcare enterprises. Towards this end ICRW Africa is partnering with Co-Impact to assess the childcare ecosystem in three counties in Kenya; Vihiga, Kisumu and Nairobi.

The Childcare Ecosystem Study Project is a practitioner-driven research and implementation initiative to fill knowledge- and evidence-gaps on women-owned childcare businesses, and on the childcare needs and challenges of Kenya’s marginalized households.

What do we intend to do?

Through a collaborative, participatory approach, the program team will generate and furnish high-quality data and actionable solutions to policymakers, childcare service providers, households, and other key stakeholders in Kenya, as well as support them in understanding and using the emerging evidence to drive system change for improved quality and accessibility of childcare services.

Project Outcomes

• Improved quality of services among women-owned childcare enterprises
• Sustainable women-owned childcare enterprises
• Improved patronage and profits for women-owned childcare enterprises
• Greater national/county support and investment in women-owned childcare enterprises
• Improved access to childcare services among marginalized households and women
• Greater participation of women and caregivers in economic activities
• Improved gender equality among vulnerable households
• Reduction in school dropout among girls from poor households
• Improved educational and wellbeing outcomes among children in vulnerable households.

Partners: National and county-level care economy policy and program organizations and players in Kenya

Project Team: Dr. Izugbara Chimaraoke, Chryspin Afifu, Dr. Ouma Marion, Deborah Nakisuyi