Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Kenya is growing, with devolved governance and global Nurturing Care Framework adoption aiming to improve services. However, unregistered home-based centers, poor quality, and limited care options for working mothers in informal settlements exist.
Key Challenges Identified:
Most home-based care centres in Kenya are neither registered nor regulated.
High-stress environments for children, including poor facilities, inadequate food, poor security, and bullying.
Limited affordable childcare options for mothers in resource-limited urban areas, affecting their employment opportunities
The project sough to address the challenges by researching the care economy, building capacity for SME childcare providers, and using technology to improve access and quality.
Key Focus Areas of the Project:
Researching the Care Economy: Generating data on the quality, supply, and affordability of daycare services and their impact on the economy and working mothers.
SME Training: Enhancing the capacity of daycare providers to meet standards for better child development, safety, and operational efficiency.
Technology adoption: Utilizing a digital platform to connect families with trained childcare services, strengthening the ecosystem for improved economic and social outcomes.