Education Note No. 3 | November 2024 Guidance Note on Home-Based Childcare For Low-Income Communities Tanzina Quddus Dina, Antony Mbithi, and Louis Marie Gael Bidzogo Ekobono Purpose Key Messages This note provides guidance for policymakers, World • Home-based childcare (HBC) is a vital but often Bank country teams, and development practitioners overlooked childcare modality: to enhance the quality, affordability, and sustainability o HBC is a prevalent childcare option for low- of home-based childcare (HBC) services in low-income income families globally, offering availability, settings. It outlines a comprehensive approach to affordability, flexibility, and a trusting and recognizing HBC as a public good and incorporating it familiar environment. into policies, programs, and financing. The note makes o Despite its importance, HBC is often key recommendations across four domains: unrecognized and unsupported, with services delivered by an untrained workforce devoid (1) workforce development, of quality assurance, nutritional support, or (2) nutritional support, economic viability. (3) establishing a quality assurance system, and • Enhancing HBC quality is crucial for improved child (4) access to financial support. developmental outcomes, increased female labor The proposed strategies include accredited training force participation, and increased productivity. programs, state-supported nutrition programs, formal • HBC providers need support and recognition. registration and oversight of HBC providers, and various HBC providers, especially those serving children financing models such as public-private partnerships from low-income communities, need support to (PPPs), grant-based financing, cooperative models, and provide quality, affordable and sustainable service access to microcredit. These measures are designed to children and their families. to improve childcare services, support providers, • Recognizing HBC as a public good is essential. and ultimately contribute to better developmental Policymakers, World Bank country teams, and outcomes for children and increase female labor force development practitioners should incorporate HBC participation (FLFP) and productivity, particularly in low- into policies, programs, and financing to ensure its and middle-income countries (LMICs) .1 sustainability and impact. 1 LMICs refers to both low-income countries (LICs) and middle-income countries (which includes both lower-middle-income and upper- middle-income countries) according to the World Bank’s income classification. 02 Key Messages • Country case studies highlight context-specific solutions. o Bangladesh: BRAC’s comprehensive care model Box 1: Definition of Home-Based Childcare addresses the needs of providers, children, and mothers, emphasizing safety, attachment, trust, and Home-Based Childcare (HBC) refers to registered mental health support. or unregistered childcare services that are typically o Kenya: Kidogo’s social franchising model empowers “Mamapreneurs” to provide high-quality childcare, provided by women in their homes, each provider while Tiny Totos transforms informal babysitters catering to a small group of children. into successful entrepreneurs. o Colombia: The state-supported Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (HCB, or Community Welfare Homes) program provides a successful model for scaling up HBC, integrating health, nutrition, and early education. Introduction • Developing the HBC workforce, providing nutrition The World Bank’s Investing in the Early Years (IEY support, establishing a quality assurance system, Framework underscores the importance of investing in and providing access to financial support are four children’s futures through three key pillars: (1) ensuring key elements to consider in creating a support that children are healthy and well-nourished, particularly system for HBC. Key strategic considerations under during the crucial first 1,000 days of life; (2) providing early each are as follows: stimulation and learning opportunities for children; and o Develop the HBC workforce: Provide a short initial (3) safeguarding children from poverty and stress. These course followed up by other training and coaching interventions have been shown to significantly influence opportunities, implement accredited training lifelong human capital development. However, to achieve programs, establish demonstration hubs, provide positive outcomes, these efforts necessitate a coordinated mentoring and coaching, form peer groups, and utilize approach and access to quality services across various blended learning approaches. sectors. Among these services, the delivery of quality o Provide nutrition support: Integrate nutrition childcare is a critical component to keep children safe and support into HBC programs through state-funded support their development when parents need to work. programs, provider training, and provision of meals Globally, more than 40% of children below primary- for children. school-entry age—nearly 350 million children—need o Establish a quality assurance system: Bring the informal childcare and do not have access to it, and this lack HBC enterprises under a formal system through of childcare is one of the biggest barriers to female registration and oversight, develop flexible quality labor force participation (FLFP) worldwide (Devercelli & standards that still adhere to key elements of quality. Beaton-Day, 2020). In 2018, 606 million working-age women Nonstate support organizations need to play a role in were out of the labor force, being engaged in unpaid care establishing standards and monitoring mechanisms work, including childcare (ILO, 2018). Governments in where government guidance and regulations are LMICs have started recognizing the vital role of childcare absent. Build parents’ and communities’ capacity to for economic growth and recovery, and a few have started demand quality at HBCs and engage them in quality taking concrete actions to formulate and implement monitoring. childcare policies and options. While preschool is gaining o Provide access to finance: Explore financing models like recognition and increased investment, the importance of public-private partnerships, grant-based financing, childcare in LMICs still needs to be emphasized as access cooperative models, and microcredit to ensure HBC and options remain sorely lacking, especially for the sustainability and affordability with quality. low-income group and for children below age 3. In most • Further Research is Needed: Continued research is cases, childcare facilities are either costly, low in quality, crucial to identify context-specific financing models that or inconvenient to low-income communities, or else there support HBC providers, improve service quality, and are strong social norms against using them (World Bank, ensure affordability and sustainability for low-income 2022b). communities. 03 Introduction This guidance note is focused on the type of HBC that Good-quality childcare is essential to keep children safe, comprises registered and unregistered childcare services support their healthy development, and help foster that are typically provided by women in their homes, each their skills to successfully transition to kindergarten and caregiver catering to a small group of children. There are elementary school. The benefits can be higher for children two types of HBC: either (1) someone providing care service in from low-income families and others who may be at risk of the child’s own home or (2) care service provided for a group entering kindergarten at a disadvantage compared to their of children in a caregiver’s home (Devercelli & Beaton-Day, better-prepared peers. Poor quality settings can lead to no 2020). This guidance note will focus on the second type of desired impacts and perpetuate existing disparities (Britto et HBC, where services are provided to a group of children in a al., 2011). In this context, it is crucial to support HBC to deliver a caregiver’s home. decent level of quality services. HBC is a common arrangement for many young children, HBC providers, especially those serving the children from and it has emerged as one of the most viable options low-income communities, need support and recognition for childcare. Parents use HBC for different reasons such to provide quality, affordable, and sustainable service as convenience, low cost, flexibility, trust, shared language to children and their families. This guidance note will and culture, home setting, and personalized care from the identify, evaluate, and propose strategies to support quality caregiver (Kaneko, Lombardi, and Weisz, 2020). In Colombia, home-based care and provide operational recommendations Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (HCB)/Community Welfare for policymakers, World Bank country teams, counterparts, Homes) reached 1.3 million under-6 children in 2011 (World and development practitioners on establishing an enabling Bank, 2013a), and a majority of these children come from environment and support system for HBC. The aim is to the families living in the lowest two wealth quintiles. Even in positively influence the working condition of HBC providers the USA, HBC is a primary option for low-income families, in low-income communities and ultimately impact the and it serves about 6.4 million children below age 5 across all productivity of low-income women and the outcomes for demographics (Home Grown, 2023). While it is being especially children who spend significant time in these settings. used by low-income families, it is also used by many wealthier families in high-income countries for its unique characteristics. Despite being a prevalent childcare option for working women (Kaneko, Lombardi, & Weisz, 2020), HBC often remains unrecognized and unsupported. The quality of care can be compromised, as services are typically provided by untrained caregivers, and the quality of childcare services generally, including HBC, is critically dependent on the providers’ capabilities. However, HBC providers, especially those serving low-income communities, seldom have access to resources that could enhance their skills, improve their recognition, better their home environment, and uplift their economic conditions (Kaneko, Lombardi, & Weisz, 2020). 04 Family environment: Many parents opt for HBC due to its Global Overview on HBC resemblance to a familial atmosphere, where services are rendered to fewer children within a more intimate environment, allowing providers to be more attuned to the This section gives an overview of HBC based on the review of individual needs of each child. Groeneveld et al. (2010) show that HBC literature and support models worldwide. The overview in Ireland, children in home-based settings benefit from heightened focuses on the benefits or rationale for choosing HBC, its caregiver attentiveness, reduced ambient noise, and an overall current scale, and what elements contribute to creating an greater sense of well-being when compared to their counterparts enabling environment for HBC to provide affordable, quality, in larger childcare centers. This approach justifies smaller settings and sustainable service. and smaller numbers of children per setting, enabling providers to address the specific needs of every child. Knowing that in many Rationale: What are the potential countries the adult-to-child ratios are not yet where they should be, benefits? Why are parents choosing this also explains why caregivers may opt for home-based childcare rather than center-based care. HBC? Strong and trusting relationship with the provider: For HBC Affordability: HBC is often the most available and providers, having served within the community for an affordable option to low-income families, because extended period with an enduring commitment to a select the service is most often informal, provided from the number of families and having had regular, personal caregiver’s home, and located inside the low- resourced interactions are instrumental in fostering a profound community. When considering HBC, affordability seems and trusting relationship with the families they serve to be the most determinative, particularly in low-income (Papatheodorou & Luff, 2023). This established trust is a key factor communities where many parents find the costs of formal in the global preference for HBC services. Furthermore, the case daycare centers prohibitive (Plantenga et al., 2009). In South study from Bangladesh reveals that low-income parents choose HBC Africa, female informal workers prefer to use unregistered based on their trusting relationship with the provider. Studies show HBCs than the center-based facilities because the cost is that this trusting relationship is built on a respectful, responsive and often cheaper (Moussié, 2021). Studies have also found that collaborative environment that providers create between children HBC is the most accessible and affordable childcare option and themselves (Bromer et al., 2023). particularly to the low-income informal workers in Bangladesh and Kenya (Rahman & Kamra, 2022; APHRC, 2022). Current Scale of HBC Flexibility and convenience: In many contexts HBC offers Despite the lack of cross-national and joint approach in more convenience and flexibility, especially to low- childcare data, particularly in LMICs, there is a notable trend income families in terms of operating hours, age group towards HBC as this is often the only affordable and available and distance from home compared to centre based option to low-income families. Globally, the scale of HBC is on the facilities. In Bangladesh, HBC provides more flexibility to rise. In the United States, nearly 30% of infants are primarily cared women working in the informal sector by serving children of for in home-based settings by childcare providers, as reported, in all age groups, including children below age 2 who usually contrast to 11.9% cared for in center-based facilities (Parschall, 2019). cannot access the center-based facilities, by operating during Colombia’s HCB represents a state-supported, well-established and non-traditional hours (beyond the 9 am – 5 pm time slot) expanded HBC model that integrates health, nutrition, and early depending on parents’ requirements, and by being available education services to almost 1.3 million at-risk children (Kaneko et in the same neighborhood or just next door to the user, unlike al., 2020; Currimjee, Lima, and Troiano 2022). In Vietnam, HBC is center-based or other formal provisions. common in industrial areas, and in South Africa it is more prevalent in low-income communities2. 2 For example, in Vietnam, One Sky reports working with over 2,000 HBC providers serving almost 50,000 children, and in South Africa SmartStart reports having over 10,000 franchisees in its network, reaching about 90,000 children. 05 Global Overview on HBC Enabling enviroment: What elements Quality assurance system: In many contexts, HBC has faced challenges linked to registration, quality standards, and are needed to create an enabling monitoring processes to ensure oversight. Registration is a environment for HBC? major challenge that HBC faces in many contexts and is one of the major activities that various models are trying to address in In this section, we emphasize some key elements that could different countries. This is the case of the Instituto Colombiano de enable or facilitate the implementation of an HBC model in low- Bienestar Familiar (ICBF, or Colombian Institute for Family Welfare) income communities while highlighting best practices that have in Colombia and Home Grown in the USA, which both developed worked in these contexts. a guide to boost their advocacy for the registration of HBC Training opportunities: Training for providers is a critical issue providers. The case of OneSky, which endeavors to get their home- within HBC models, as HBC providers frequently lack the based care training certified, is also an example of effort that some necessary training, guidance, oversight, and supervision to countries have made to improve on the recognition of HBC in their provide quality services. A significant challenge in many regions communities. In contrast to high-income countries where HBC has a is the absence of tailored training for HBC providers. Efforts to licensing requirement, in many contexts there is no regulation. address these training deficiencies include OneSky’s initiative Quality standards: Quality standards, which should include in Vietnam, which has implemented an HBC provider training both structural and process elements, are often not program in 19 provinces identified as having the greatest need. feasible and adaptable for HBC. This is particularly true of Additionally, organizations like All Our Kin and SmartStart have structural elements of quality, such as infrastructure and space enhanced the skills of providers through structured training, requirements, which can be unnecessarily onerous in some coaching, and mentorship. Moreover, the emphasis on ongoing countries. Key quality elements include, for example, responsive professional growth is evident in the mentoring and coaching care for children by trained providers, safe physical environment, initiatives of Kidogo in Kenya and BRAC in Bangladesh, as well manageable adult-to-child ratio, daily schedule, age-appropriate as OneSky’s use of online platforms to facilitate continual skill play-based activities, variety of age-appropriate materials and development. toys, good hygiene practices, nutritious food, well-being checks, Access to finance: Securing funding is crucial for a sustainable and regular engagement with parents. The government of HBC model. HBC providers often face significant financial Colombia is working to establish quality standards by establishing challenges, operating in resource-constrained settings where Quality Benchmark Centers and promoting Education Collectives many families struggle to afford high-quality childcare. (Colombia Potencia De La Vida & Gobierno del Cambio, 2024). Moreover, the predominantly female HBC workforce is often Monitoring: Monitoring primarily focuses on quality undervalued and underpaid, with many providers unable to improvements. However, when monitoring mechanisms pay themselves or other practitioners a living wage (Kaneko include coaching and support, they can also enhance business et al., 2020). Providers frequently sacrifice quality measures to sustainability. Community engagement is highly recommended remain financially sustainable. A study in Bangladesh showed as a monitoring mechanism. It can lead to a more sustainable the majority of the HBC spaces are not child-friendly (Rahman model supported by the community. For example, Kidogo’s social & Kamra, 2022). Despite the lack of sufficient funding, some franchise model enhances HBC self-sufficiency. The experiences countries are beginning to support HBC models with innovative of SmartStart, OneSky, and Home Grown demonstrate that when financial mechanisms. In Colombia, for example, the government local community members take ownership of activities, they are provides subsidies to cover 75% of HBC-related expenses, with more likely to ensure both effective monitoring and sustainability parents contributing the remainder (Attanasio & Vera-Hernandez, (Kaneko et al., 2020). 2004). The early adoption of diverse funding sources is widely regarded as a best practice for HBC models. Analyzing models like Nutrition support: Nutrition is critical for children’s growth SmartStart, which have forged partnerships with the government and development, but HBC providers may not have for subsidies and financial aid, demonstrates a greater impact and knowledge about nutritional needs or the ability to provide expansion in their service areas. These case studies illustrate that nutritious food, therefore support to improve knowledge blending private investments with public funds and, occasionally, about nutritional needs and the ability to provide nutritious beneficiary fees can create a viable financing strategy for HBC food are crucial. Nutrition support is provided in two ways: (1) by models in economically challenged settings. training in nutrition need and strategies to incorporate nutritious 06 Global Overview on HBC food and (2) by providing nutritious meals for children. A recent preparing nutritious meals, which now account for 25% of their cross-sectional survey among low-income families in the USA childcare revenue. Similarly, Wawa Wasi in Peru prioritizes found a positive association of childcare-provided meals with food nutrition in its childcare activities, serving children three meals security and children’s health among low-income families (Ettinger daily from local community kitchens (Cueto et al, 2009). de Cuba et al., 2023). Colombia’s HBC program also ensures In sum, key challenges in supporting HBC include insufficient 70% of nutrition intake at the facilities and is proven to help financial resources, a lack of political commitment, and the poorest children maintain nutritional status (Attanasio & finding a balance between enhancing quality and ensuring Vera-Hernandez, 2004). Many programs incorporate nutritional income for the private sector. This global overview suggests guidance into their daily operations. For instance, India’s SEWA that successful HBC implementation in LMICs hinges on Childcare cooperative offers counseling to parents on nutrition training opportunities, access to finance, quality assurance, and and healthy food habits (ILO, 2018). Tiny Totos, a Kenyan nutrition support, as shown in Figure 2. social enterprise supporting HBC, includes nutritional support by providing nutrition education, establishing kitchens, and Figure 2. HBC global overview • Affordability Why Parents • Trusting relationships with the provider Choose HBC • Convenience and flexibility • Home environment Global Overview on HBC Key Elements • Training opportunity for and • Quality assurance Enabling for • Access to finance HBC • Nutrition support Source: Authors Key takeaways from Bangladesh case study: Country Case Studies • Access to childcare is limited for urban low-income communities, although they need it most. In HBC discourse, three compelling case studies emerge from • The inconveniences of center-based childcare (i.e., operation Bangladesh, Kenya, and Colombia. While Bangladesh and hours, service limited to specific age groups, distance) and Kenya each present unique facets of HBC demand, challenges, prevailing social and cultural norms often restrain families from and how support organizations are bringing solutions, choosing center-based childcare even when they are available. Colombia presents a successful scaled model supported by the • HBC in Bangladesh is emerging as a viable option for low- state in collaboration with nonprofit organizations. These cases income families in need, with its unique features, i.e., flexible underscore the importance of context-specific, locally driven service hours, mutually agreed service cost between the solutions in addressing complex childcare challenges. provider and the user, and the trusting relationship between the provider and the user plays a critical role in choosing such Bangladesh: HBC as an emerging facilities. childcare solution for urban low- • HBCs are operated as informal, own-account enterprises in resource-constrained settings, remaining unrecognized and income mothers mothers unsupported, resulting in their often providing low-quality services to the low-income families. 07 Objective(s) Country Case Studies • BRAC, an international development organization, has In such context, HBC has emerged as a viable option, developed an HBC support model based on a comprehensive particularly for the urban low-income families in need. care approach for providers, children, and mothers to While HBC in Bangladesh shares many common features with enhance attachment, trust, reciprocity, and psychological HBCs around the world, it also has some unique features, such well-being, improve the safety and reliability of the HBC as flexible service hours and schedules that allow low-income environment, and create livelihood opportunities. women to work irregular or nontraditional hours, catering • HBCs in Bangladesh need attention and appropriate support to children below age 2, deciding the cost of the service to provide quality and continuous service to children and mutually between the provider and the user according to parents and create jobs in the sector itself. the affordability to both parties, and the trusting relationship Lack of access to childcare facilities is one of the key reasons between the provider and the user, which all play a critical role females stay out of the labor force in Bangladesh, where in choosing such facilities (Rahman & Kamra, 2022; field visit female participation in the labor force is almost half the rate note). of male participation (42.7% vs 79.7%), and where it is only Despite HBC being a common childcare solution for low- 23.6% in urban area (BBS 2023). A recent needs assessment income working mothers, HBC businesses are operated of low-income mothers shows 73% of them cited childbirth and as informal, own-account enterprises in resource- childcare responsibilities as reasons for not joining the labor force constrained settings where the quality of services is often (Rahman & Kamra, 2022). Another study found that women low. The service in most cases is provided by an untrained with under-five children are less likely to join the labor force caregiver from the community in her own home, where the than women who do not have young children, and this negative recommended caregiver-child ratio is barely maintained, association between female labor force participation and having the environment is not safe, healthy, hygienic, or stimulating children below age 5 is almost three times higher for urban enough, and there is rarely provision for food and nutrition to women than for rural women (Solotaroff et al., 2019). Elsey et al. support children’s optimal development (Rahman & Kamra (2020) found that the childcare need is four times higher among 2022). A news video clip by BBC News Bangla, published on low-income urban households than high-income households in March 8, 2023, captures an HBC provider’s interview with some Dhaka city. For the 10.2 million residents of Dhaka city, there are raw footage of children and the environment inside, where the only 35 public daycare centers that are accessible and affordable reality of those resource-poor facilities is very much evident. to low-income families. Recently BRAC has come forward to support 556 of In addition to limited access and affordability and these HBC providers in low-income urban communities inconveniences, the prevailing social and cultural norms also to improve the environment and care practices inside restrain low-income families from accessing formal facilities these facilities and impart entrepreneurial skills to make even when they are even available. The limited supply of center- HBC a viable business model (BRAC 2023). BRAC’s HBC based facilities for low-income families rarely cater to children under support model is inspired by the BRAC Play Lab model, which age 2. A recent study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) follows a play-based learning approach, creates low-cost and revealed that only 23 percent of the surveyed companies have a culturally relevant safe spaces, trains local practitioners, and childcare facility, while another study shows that only one percent of engages parents and communities in all its activities (BRAC, interviewed working women use such childcare facilities (IFC, 2019; 2021). To support HBC providers, BRAC provides them with Hill, Kotikula, & Raza 2019). Inflexible hours of operation, limited training on play-based stimulation, playful design and low-cost employer- provided childcare, distance from home and work, and decoration, child safety, health and hygiene practices, and affordability make access to the existing childcare facilities even more community engagement, and supports them to adapt their challenging, especially for low-income working women (Rahman home environment to make them child-safe and stimulating. & Kamra, 2022). Furthermore, the fear of leaving the child with an BRAC has also started linking selected providers with its Micro unknown person, believing in the social norm that a female family Finance program to facilitate the sustainability of the business. member either in the immediate or in the extended family has to be the caregiver, restricts families from choosing formal childcare (Elsey et al., 2020). 08 Objective(s) Country Case Studies Considering the multifaceted support needed by both the Therefore, HBC providers in Bangladesh need support and providers and users of HBC in the low-income settings in attention to ensure that they provide a minimum-quality, Bangladesh, BRAC endeavors to establish a comprehensive safe, and stimulating environment for children to grow care model for HBC to support the well-being of children, up with proper nutrition, age-appropriate stimulation, mothers, and providers (BRAC, personal communication, and learning opportunities, and to ensure that they can October 12, 2023). The main features of their care model thereby support female labor force participation and are (1) enhancing the triangular relationship among provider, increased productivity. mother, and child, based on attachment, reciprocity, and trust; (2) mental health support for providers and mothers; (3) Kenya: HBC as a tool for Women’s improving safety and reliability of the home environment, thus Economic Empowerment empowering both provider and user; and (4) connecting gender and livelihood with mental health, ECD, and child protection. In Kenya, the high demand for affordable, quality childcare is BRAC follows nine principles of quality, including genuine not met by the current supply, impacting the economy and care for children; emotional attachment between provider women’s empowerment. and child and between provider and user; child safeguarding; Key takeaways from the Kenya case study: safe physical environment; stimulating interaction; learning • Addressing childcare needs could potentially boost environment free of threat and fear; empathy; cleanliness; and Kenya’s labor force participation rate by 10 percentage inclusion (FGD with BRAC, 2023). BRAC’s monitoring and quality points (Fraym, 2022). assurance mechanism for HBC involves regular visits, coaching • Limited access to childcare affects women’s economic and mentoring to monitor and improve quality on the one side productivity, with women spending 3 hours and 36 and, on the other side, leveraging local community support to minutes more per day than men in unpaid care and supervise the provisions (FGD with BRAC, 2023). domestic work (KNBS, 2021). While the recently enacted Child Daycare Centre Act of • The high demand has led to a proliferation of poor-quality 2021 is applicable to HBC given the definition of “child facilities, particularly in informal settlements and large daycare centre,” complying with the (draft) rules and agricultural plantations (APHRC, 2022). regulations of the act would be quite impossible for HBC • Kidogo’s Mamapreneurs model has led to the operation providers without any support, special arrangements, of three corporate-owned Centers of Excellence and the and consideration. The act defines “child daycare centre” as support of 1,500 Mamapreneurs-owned micro-businesses, any building, house, fixed place, room, or any premises where directly benefiting 38,000 children, and indirectly impacting a child stays at any specific time of day, which is compatible nearly 12,000 Kenyans (Kidogo,2024). with the definition of HBC. But an HBC operating in a low- • Tiny Totos social enterprise model has a network of 200 income community can hardly meet the requirements of the daycares in Kenya, resulting in 17,500 children accessing registration stipulated in the draft rules and regulations of the learning opportunities, improved health, and quality act. For example, to become a registered facility, a provider has care, and training 4,000 mothers, helpers, and managers to have a graduate level degree with training in ECD; pay about in improved childcare practices (The Care Economy US$100 for registration if in Dhaka or Chittagong; show liquidity Knowledge Hub, 2023). of about US$9,000 in his or her bank account; have a minimum • NurtureFirst’s commitment to systemic change and space of 3,000 square feet or 50 square feet per child; have capacity building is ensuring that HBC providers are separate arrangements for breast feeding, changing, cooking, integrated into the broader care economy and recognized sleeping, sports, reading, and entertainment, with separate for their essential role in child development (NurtureFirst, toilets for boys and girls. Though there are requirements for 2023). the staff-child ratio to be maintained for 30–40 and 50–60 Access to affordable and quality childcare in Kenya is low children, no such ratio is given for the facilities catering for despite its high potential return on investments. A recent a smaller group of children. Moreover, according to the Act, analysis projected that addressing primary caregivers’ childcare operating any ‘Child Daycare Centre’ without registration is needs could lead to a 10-percentage-point increase in the labor a legally punishable offence. Given the fact that if HBC falls force participation rate in Kenya. Furthermore, on average, under the Act, HBC providers will not be able to legally operate for every $1 invested in accessible childcare services, currently without registration and if they do operate they will remain unemployed primary caregivers would expect to generate $7 in informal, unrecognized, and unsupported. increased economic activity (Fraym, 2022). 09 Country Case Studies Objective(s) Limited access to quality, affordable childcare impacts and network and community support services. These services women’s economic empowerment and productivity. Female help the Mamapreneurs start or grow their own childcare labor force participation is 10 percentage points lower than micro-businesses and improve the development, health, male labor force participation. The participation rate varies over and education outcomes of the children under their care. time: the male labor force participation rate ranges from 60% Kidogo also works with the parents, community leaders, and to 94% between the ages of 20 and 49, whereas for women the local authorities to create a supportive environment for the range is 51% to 83% (World Bank, 2023b). The biggest difference Mamapreneurs and their childcare services. These efforts between male and female labor force participation is during the have led to the operation of three corporate-owned Centers childbearing and child raising years, from age 25 to age 44, with of Excellence and the support of 1,500 Mamapreneur-owned women spending 3 hours and 36 minutes more per day in unpaid micro-businesses, directly benefiting 38,000 children, and care and domestic work than men (KNBS, 2021). indirectly impacting nearly 12,000 Kenyans. Kidogo has also expanded its model to the Kakuma Kalobeyei Refugee Camp The high demand for childcare facilities is contributing and supports young mothers in vocational training centers to a proliferation of poor-quality facilities, especially in (Kidogo, 2023). informal settlements and large agricultural plantations. A survey of 1,200 mothers living in a Nairobi slum found that Tiny Totos Kenya is transforming informal babysitters into mothers recognized the benefits of center-based childcare for successful childcare entrepreneurs by partnering with themselves and their children but noted that costs were often 200 daycares and training 4,000 mothers, helpers, and prohibitive, forcing women to either bring children to work with managers in improved childcare practices. A significant 86% them or rely on neighbors or kin (Fraym, 2022). Further, APHRC of these daycares have become profitable, generating over (2022) found that home-based care centers can fill a gap in early US$628,000 in micro-childcare sales. Additionally, 80% of these childhood education in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Since the daycares have diversified their services by selling food or other promulgation of the new constitution in 2010, the government livelihood or health products. About 66% of these daycares has improved policies and regulation around preprimary are digitally reporting their business performance. Tiny Totos provision. However, no national policies and standards exist for has also facilitated the sale of 3,273 clean cookstoves, 21,000 provisions serving children ages 0–3 years. Most policies on early bags of fortified porridge, and 2,239 learning books. They have childhood development target school-going children ages 4–5, provided micro-loans amounting to US$22,000, benefiting with no focus on ages 0–3, especially in the provision of childcare 432 daycares and parents. As a result, 17,500 children are facilities. This has resulted in the perception that early childhood benefiting from quality childcare and learning, 11,000 children development falls within the education sector, with a central have received Vitamin A and deworming booster shots, 75% focus on preprimary education. Furthermore, there is no national of children are meeting development and health milestones, policy on childcare, especially in the provision of childcare facilities, 82% are meeting age-appropriate development milestones, although a few counties (Nairobi and Mombasa) have developed and 73% show no signs of malnutrition (The Care Economy Childcare Acts that provide regulatory frameworks for 0–6 years Knowledge Hub, 2023). old. However, due to policy gaps, non-state actors primarily provide childcare facilities, underscoring the need to prioritize this NurtureFirst initiative is pioneering quality improvement crucial stage and the needs of children and their caregivers. in HBC across Kenya’s Mombasa, Kisumu, and Murang’a counties, targeting an estimated 26,600 HBC providers A couple of organizations are supporting HBC providers and potentially reaching 354,000 nationwide. The program in Kenya, trying to fill gaps around a lack of training, enhances HBC quality by developing indicators, training, and support, and quality assurance. Kidogo, a social enterprise, support systems like community forums and kitchen gardens. plays a support role for home-based childcare in Kenya by It addresses the needs of 112,776 children in Kisumu, 87,540 using an innovative social franchising approach to identify, in Murang’a, and 119,849 in Mombasa, focusing on mental train, and support female entrepreneurs (“Mamapreneurs”) health, provider recognition, and policy advocacy. With Kenya’s in both center- and home-based settings. Kidogo enables the 4.7 million children ages 0–3 years, of which 2.82 million need Mamapreneurs to offer high-quality, affordable, and accessible HBC, the initiative’s phased strategy from 2023 to 2027 aims childcare to low-income families in Kenya. Through this social for systemic change in policy and practice, leveraging local franchising model, Kidogo offers the Mamapreneurs training, partnerships and resource distribution for sustainable early quality assurance, branding and marketing, access to finance, childhood development interventions (NurtureFirst, 2023). 010 Country Case Studies Objective(s) Through targeted interventions, ECDAN’s NurtureFirst, Colombia’s HCB is a tested and scaled HBC model that has worked closely with the Kenya national and county is supported by state policy, program, and funding government support services, identifying key systemic levers (Kaneko et al., 2020; Currimjee et al., 2022). Policy, to scale sustainable interventions. Their comprehensive support training, operating, and financing models of HCB combined system has been crucial for childcare providers, predominantly serve as a great example for countries to establish a quality, women who offer day and night care in their homes. These sustainable HBC model for low-income families. providers, often community elders, have historically faced challenges The HCB program serves as a robust support system, like high operational costs and lack of compensation. Now, they providing comprehensive care to children in Colombia. receive the recognition and support necessary to offer affordable, It is provided in the homes of trained educational agents accessible, and culturally relevant childcare services, which is vital responsible for the care and attention of a group of 12 to for families living below the minimum wage and those in informal 14 children between ages six months and five years. The settlements. NurtureFirst’s commitment to systemic change and program is one of the largest programs in Colombia, with capacity building has been instrumental in creating a more equitable more than 65,000 registered home-based centers and more environment for early childhood care and development, ensuring than 1 million children enrolled. that HBC providers are integrated into the broader care economy and recognized for their essential role in child development. Their The HCB program offers integral attention to children, work represents a significant step toward a society where high- covering health, nutrition, and early education aspects. quality home-based childcare is valued and supported as a critical The children receive daily meals that meet their nutritional early intervention for child development (NurtureFirst, 2023). needs, as well as regular health check-ups and vaccinations. They also implement pedagogical activities that stimulate Therefore, HBC is a vital service that can have positive the cognitive, linguistic, socioemotional, and physical impacts on children, parents, and caregivers in Kenya, but it development of the children, following the guidelines of the also requires more attention and intervention from policymakers, national curriculum for early childhood. Evidence shows practitioners, and communities to address its challenges the positive effects of the program on the cognitive and and improve its quality. Further, the country can tap into the socioemotional development of children exposed to the Community Health Workers3 to enhance childcare quality and be HCB program for more than 15 months (Colombia Potencia a doorway to improved HBC. De La Vida & Gobierno del Cambio, 2024). Colombia: A Scaled-up Support Model for The HCB program is managed by nonprofit HBC organizations, such as foundations, associations, In Colombia, the state has supported and scaled HBC through cooperatives, and corporations, among others, that policy, programs, and funding. have experience and capacity in providing early childhood services. These organizations are called Key takeaways from the Colombia case study: Entidades Administradoras del Servicio (EAS, or Service Colombia’s Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (HCB) is a tested and Management Entities), and they are in charge of selecting, scaled HBC model that is supported by state policy, programming, training, and supervising the childcare providers, as well as and funding. 65,000 registered HCB sites serve more than 1 million providing them with the necessary materials and equipment children. for their work. The EAS also coordinates with the local • HCB prioritize families in situations of vulnerability or risk. authorities and other institutions to ensure the quality and • HCB has been proven to improve children’s cognitive and coverage of the service. The program is funded by a mix socioemotional development. of public financing and parental fees, with parents paying • HCB integrates health, nutrition, and early education support. monthly fees of less than 25 percent of the daily national • HCB is managed by nonprofits and funded by public financing minimum wage. The program also offers training and and parental fees; the HCB program is an exemplary model for certification for childcare providers (community mothers) countries aiming to establish sustainable HCB for low-income (Attanasio & Vera-Hernandez, 2004). families. • The benefit-cost ratio of HCB is in the range of 1.4 or 2.7 (depending on the discount rate) for the program, indicating its economic efficiency and social impact. 3 Kenya has officially acknowledged the pivotal role that Community Health Workers play in healthcare delivery by remunerating them and removing obstacles that impede their work. . 011 Country Case Studies Objective(s) The HCB program is accessible to families that are The variability in the quality of care remains a pressing concern, classified according to the criteria defined by by the ICBF, prompting the government to devise and implement strategies the national agency responsible for child welfare. The aimed at enhancing quality, including the establishment of Quality program gives priority to those families that are in situations of Benchmark Centers and the promotion of Education Collectives vulnerability or risk, such as victims of displacement, poverty, (Colombia Potencia De La Vida & Gobierno del Cambio, 2024). violence, or social exclusion. The program also involves the families in the process of care and education of their children. There is a benefit-cost ratio in the range of 1.0 or 2.7 Key Recommendations and (depending on the discount rate) for the program, indicating Considerations for Quality its economic efficiency and social impact (Bernal & Fernández, 2013). and Affordable HBC Colombia is recognized as a pillar in early childhood To enhance the quality, affordability, and sustainability of advancement. Since 2016, the nation has embarked on a HBC services, policymakers, World Bank country teams, transformative journey, guided by a public policy that has counterparts, and development practitioners should recognize significantly broadened the reach of early childhood care. HBC as a public good and incorporate this model into policies, This policy has been a catalyst for growth, increasing coverage programs, and financing for childcare. Based on the global from 1,549,559 children in 2023 to an anticipated 1,900,000 overview and case studies, this guidance note makes four by 2026. At the heart of this expansion is the Integral Care recommendations as four key elements to consider for approach, a holistic model of development that is pivotal as the creating an enabling environment and support system for government sets its sights on encompassing 2.7 million children HBC: (1) develop the HBC workforce, (2) provide nutrition across 426 prioritized municipalities. The ICBF, with its legacy support, (3) establish a quality assurance system, and (4) of over 45 years, continues to be instrumental in nurturing the provide access to financial support. Figure 3 illustrates the nation’s youth, aiming to cater to the needs of 4,568,000 children strategic considerations recommended under these four ages 0 to 5. However, the journey is not without its challenges. elements. Figure 3: Key Recommendations and Considerations for Quality and Affordable HBC ✓ Provide a short initial course followed by other training and coaching opportunities Develop ✓ Skills development support can include accredited training program for providers, and Incorporate it into policy, program, and workforce demonstration hubs for hands-on training, mentoring and coaching for the providers, blended learning approach that includes classroom-based training, open online resources, peer groups, etc. Recognize HBC as a Public Good ✓ Training on nutrition needs and strategies to incorporate nutrition food Provide nutrition ✓ Provision of meals for children through expanding school feeding, establishing support community kitchens, installing proper kitchen facilities, etc. financing ✓ Bring the informal sector and own account HBC enterprises under a formal system Establish ✓ Make flexible quality standards for HBC that reflect the variety of provision and adhere to key quality elements of quality assurance system ✓ In the absence of government guidance and regulations, nonstate organizations can play a role in establishing standards and monitoring mechanisms ✓ Build parents’ and communities’ capacity to demand and ensure quality at HBCs ✓ Provide access to a sustainable support system to ensure quality, affordability, and Provide access sustainability to financial support ✓ Consider all potential financing options, including public-private partnerships, cooperatives, grant-based financing, and micro-finance Source: Authors 012 Key Recommendations and Considerations Objective(s) for Quality and Affordable HBC 1. Develop the HBC Workforce 2. Provide Nutrition Support Developing the HBC workforce is crucial given Nutrition support in the form of capacity building and that providers might operate at scale in certain the actual provision of nutritious meals for children communities or countries but most often lack the should be integral parts of HBC design, especially minimum training, opportunities for continuous when they serve low-income families. Nutrition support professional development, and coaching to become not only improves children’s health outcomes, but also professionals who can provide quality care and a contributes to working parents’ satisfaction and reduces quality environment. Development could consist of the burden of arranging and preparing food for children. a short initial course followed up by other training and Following are potential strategies to provide nutrition coaching opportunities. Operating an HBC involves support: multidimensional tasks such as directing stimulating • State-provided nutrition support through engagement activities with children, responding to children’s needs, with parents and local nutritionists has been an maintaining safety and hygiene, preparing meals for effective way to ensure provision of nutritious meal children, and running daily administration, among others. at HBCs in Colombia. The government ensures that Providers’ lack of essential skills may jeopardize the optimal children get 70% of their nutritional intake at the development of children. Given this, training and skills facilities, and provides funds to registered parents development is one of the most essential supports HBC associations, which purchase food and deliver at HBCs providers need to provide a continuous and consistent weekly (using refrigeration). The menu is developed quality childcare service. by the local nutritionist appointed by the government. Effective training and skills development support for Expansion of state- or non-state-run school feeding HBC providers includes: programs to HBC could also offer a solution to address children’s nutritional needs. • Creating an accredited training program for providers (HBC providers in France have to attend a certificate • Supporting HBC providers to establish or renovate course organized and financed by the state to receive their own kitchen facilities with training on food a five-year license); selection and preparation not only ensures that children have nutritious meals, but also creates an • Establishing demonstration hubs for the prospective opportunity for providers to generate income. Tiny HBC providers where they learn how to apply concepts Totos in Kenya trains providers on the preparation and best practices (OneSky, Kidogo); of nutritious meals with support for kitchen set-up, • Mentoring and coaching for the providers (BRAC, with 25% of the providers income’ coming from selling Kidogo, Tiny Totos, SmartStart); children’s meals to parents. • Using a blended learning approach that includes • Establishing community kitchens supported by the classroom-based training, open online resources, and state and managed by local volunteers may be another coaching though regular visits (OneSky); and strategy for providing nutritious meals for children in HBC care. Wawa Wasi, a state-run childcare program • Using online and offline platforms to form peer in Peru, has been successful in providing nutritious groups/networks and to support continuous meals to children in HBC care (Family Wawa Wasi) professional development (Kidogo, Tiny Totos, by establishing community kitchens supervised by OneSky). a local management committee. The committee members volunteer to manage funds provided by the government and supervise the program at the local level (Cueto et al. 2009). 013 Key Recommendations and Considerations Objective(s) for Quality and Affordable HBC approach should focus more on continuous support and coaching to upgrade the quality of the facilities 3. Establish a Quality Assurance rather than on strict compliance and penalty (Kaneko System et al. 2020). Countries with an enabling environment Establishing a quality assurance system is critical for for HBC have made their quality standards flexible HBC, because in many LMICs this model operates in to accommodate HBC. For example, HBC providers isolation, without any registration or formal recognition, classified as Childminders in the UK are brought under monitoring and supervision, or quality standards that the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation are feasible and appropriate for HBC. Stage, and some standards are made flexible for them. For example, while a manager of childcare has to have Bringing the informal and own-account HBC at least an approved level 3 qualification, Childminders enterprises under a formal system through a feasible can qualify with a level 2 qualification; while center- and clear registration process should be considered based providers have to follow a strict staff-child ratio key to quality assurance and support. To ensure that according to age and number of children, a Childminder HBC providers have access to financial and technical can cater to up to six children under age 8 with provision support available in the country, the facilities will need to for flexibility if they have assistants and serve their own operate under formal systems. This can be done in two children or siblings or maintain continuity of care, etc. ways: In the absence of government guidance and 1. Through the government system: Registration with regulations, non-state support organizations can a government authority can be an option to bring play a role in establishing their own set of standards the HBCs under a formal system. In Colombia, all and monitoring system. Kidogo in Kenya and HBCs are registered with ICBF, the national agency SmartStart in South Africa have developed their own responsible for regulation and supervision of quality standards for HBCs and have established their services related to the welfare and protection of own mechanisms of quality assurance for the HBCs that children in Colombia, which includes the registration operate under their network. Kidogo follows a simple and oversight of HBC providers. In South Africa, the quality checklist, which is based on the Nurturing Care municipality takes the responsibility of accrediting Framework, and its social franchise officer is responsible and registering informal childcare, given that they for monitoring the provisions and providing coaching are aware of the settlements where the low-income and mentorship support to the providers. population lives and where they work (Moussie 2021). In the UK, HBC providers can register with Comprehensive quality assurance should also either the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) include building parents’ and communities’ or an authorized selected childminder agency. capacity to create demand for and ensure quality at HBC providers. Parents and communities need to 2. Through non-state authorities: Non-state support understand the elements of quality care to demand organizations can bring the unregistered/informal quality and monitor both structural and process quality. facilities under a formal system the way the SEWA A study in Australia suggested that parents’ knowledge Cooperatives do in India. SEWA’s childcare facilities and understanding of quality childcare is important to are run and used by their members under the drive demand for quality service (Fenech et al. 2011). authority, support system, and supervision of SEWA Many HBC support organizations engage parents and Childcare Cooperatives. Kidogo in Kenya implements communities by generating awareness on ECD and a social franchise model to bring informal HBCs involving community members for supervision of such under their network through technical assistance informal services. Mobile Creches in India and Little and supervision. However, without government Ripples in Chad involve community members in the initiative, bringing all HBC providers under one supervision of the facilities; HCB in Colombia conducts formal system may not be possible. social dialogue with children, families, and communities; The quality standards for HBC should be flexible and and OneSky in Vietnam builds the capacity of primary reflect the variety of provisions, but they should caregivers on ECD, and its early learning centers still adhere to key elements of quality. To ensure demonstrate what quality childcare looks like for both that minimum quality is maintained in the facilities, the providers and parents. 014 Key Recommendations and Considerations Objective(s) for Quality and Affordable HBC 4. Provide Access to Finance • Cooperative model: Forming an HBC cooperative is a potential financing model, in which cooperative Access to a sustainable financial support system must be members are the owners, managers, and users in place for the consistency, affordability, and sustainability of the HBC services. SEWA Sangini Cooperative of HBC services. LMIC countries need to identify financing in India is an example of such a support model models to establish and sustain the support mechanism. for community-based childcare that is owned, The guidance note proposes the following financing managed, and used by informal female workers in models, which aim to improve the skills of childcare the cooperative. The SEWA Sangini cooperative gets providers, improve development outcomes for children, government subsidies and donor grants and also and enable women to enter or expand their participation generates its own funds by selling the services at a in paid work. They would also help to address the childcare higher cost to customers outside the cooperative, challenge, which disproportionately impacts families in thereby subsidizing and supporting HBC in providing LMICs: quality care services at an affordable cost to the cooperative members. • Public-private partnership (PPP): Government engagement with and support to HBCs could be • Access to micro credit: In LMICs most HBC centers an important way to improve the affordability and operate as small, own-account enterprises. Along quality of services. This is crucial in areas where the with skills development support, providing HBC population is unable to meet the HBC fee for their providers with access to microcredit can help children and providers may be unable to provide them improve quality of home environment and quality services, especially in rural areas and among boost sustainability. BRAC in Bangladesh has the urban poor. Governments can provide financial started linking selected HBC providers with their and non-financial support to providers (supply-aide microfinance program along with other support financing) in the form of subsidies or one-time grants, services, e.g., ECD and entrepreneurship skills buildings, or land. Financial support can also be development, support to improve the home channeled through families in the form of allowances environment, psychosocial support, and supportive and tax benefits (demand-side financing). Both types supervision. Tiny Totos in Kenya also provides small of support can make the services more affordable business loans to HBC providers along with other while also helping providers have a stable source of support; in this program, 90% of HBC businesses are funding that can help maintain or improve a basic profitable. level of quality. The United Kingdom offers financial support to families for both center-based care and Childminders (HBC providers). In Colombia, HBC providers charge a maximum 25% of parents’ income, Conclusion and the rest is covered by government financing Training opportunities, nutrition support, a quality and in-kind support from the local communities assurance system, and access to financing are essential (Currimjee, Lima, and Troiano 2022). In France, the for HBC providers, particularly in low-income and state provides a subsidy to parents to cover up to 85% lower-middle-income countries. The continuous of the HBC providers’ salary, which contributes to the professional development of HBC providers, coupled sustainability and affordability of HBC on both supply with nutritional and developmental support for children and demand sides. For governments with limited fiscal with a quality assurance system maintained through space, progressive fiscal policy 4 can be an effective various financing modalities, plays a significant role in strategy to expand the reach and improve the quality enhancing the skills of childcare providers, improving of HBC services. children’s developmental outcomes and increasing • Grant-based financing: This can be a sustainable female labor force participation and productivity. 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Washington, D.C.: WorldBankGroup. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099185001262379911/ P175941033f39c01508a51042e6734f03ba 018 Objective(s) Annex: Global Overview of HBC Models One Sky (Vietnam) Users’ economic status Low-income household in industrial zones Providers’ qualification Background in ECE Children’s Age 0-6 years Caregiver-child Ratio 1CG/25Kids Service Hours / Type of services Training of trainers, on-site monitoring, and hand on support Training Neighborhood/location Neighborhood Service cost and fees 00 $ Support received from GOs and/ NGOs NGOs Quality assurance OneSky’s training program Sustainability Impact of the trained HBC provided on their caregivers Kidogo (Kenya) Users’ economic status LIH Providers’ qualification / Children’s Age / Caregiver-child Ratio / Service Hours / Type of services Training, mentorship, resources and ongoing quality assurance Neighborhood/location Neighborhood (community) Service cost and fees Private grant funding with a small fee of $2 and $10 Support received from GOs and/ NGOs Gov and NGO Quality assurance Kidogo adapted the FCCERS and developed their own ‘traffic light’ system, assessing Mamapreneurs against criteria derived from the Nurturing Care Framework Sustainability / Community Welfare Homes (Colombia) Users’ economic status LIH Providers’ qualification / Children’s Age 18month- 04 years Caregiver-child Ratio 1CG/15Kids Service Hours / Type of services Pedagogical actions for the effective enjoyment of their rights, integral protection, active and organized participation of the family, the community, and the territorial entities in Colombia Neighborhood/location Neighborhood Service cost and fees / Support received from GOs and/ NGOs GOs (The HCB service is financed with public funds from ICBF) Quality assurance The Operational Manual of the Community-Based Modality for Early Childhood Development details the quality conditions that must be met Sustainability A locally based- approach is used and it generate a dynamic of motivation 019 Objective(s) Annex: Global Overview of HBC Models All our KIN (United States) Users’ economic status Under resources households Providers’ qualification No qualifications Children’s Age / Caregiver-child Ratio 1CG/18Kids Service Hours / Type of services Education support, connection to further resources, business training Neighborhood/location Neighborhood Service cost and fees Free Support received from GOs and/ NGOs Donors and philanthropist Quality assurance Personalize coaching, training, strength-based support Sustainability With the use of FCCERS as a tool, even after the Organization suppose, thit approach will lead to significant improvement Carinos (Brazil) Users’ economic status / Providers’ qualification / Children’s Age / Caregiver-child Ratio 1CG/15Kids Service Hours / Type of services Training on ECD, child protection, leadership, business management, healthcare and nutrition Neighborhood/location / Service cost and fees Fee-funded Support received from GOs and/ NGOs Investors and corporate foundations Quality assurance Using tools created for childcare center contexts as a basis: health and safety, and provider-child interactions Sustainability / Home Grow (United States) Users’ economic status All socioeconomic groups, but mostly LIH Providers’ qualification / Children’s Age 0-5 years Caregiver-child Ratio / Service Hours / Type of services Core practices, innovation, measurement, and policy Neighborhood/location Neighborhood Service cost and fees / Support received from GOs and/ NGOs NGO Quality assurance A key pillar of its activity is to develop improved ways of defining and measuring quality in home-based settings that are informed by evidence Sustainability Stakeholder engagement is vital for the sustainability 020 Objective(s) Annex: Global Overview of HBC Models Brazil public daycare (Brazil) Users’ economic status Low-income households Providers’ qualification Min 16 years old and middle school + early childhood training received after employment Children’s Age 0-3 years Caregiver-child Ratio 08-12/CG Service Hours 8h/day Type of services Nutritional intake, physical play, instructional toys, art, music, storytelling, and rest time Neighborhood/location Neighborhood Service cost and fees Free as a result of a lottery Support received from GOs and/ NGOs Gov was supporting the 10.000 slots Quality assurance Random sample with a follow-up, detailed surveys, measures of child development Sustainability / SEWA Cooperative (India) Users’ economic status / Providers’ qualification No basic training apart from the Coop Children’s Age 3-6 years Caregiver-child Ratio 02 CG/25 Service Hours / Type of services Nutrition Neighborhood/location / Service cost and fees / Support received from GOs and/ NGOs NGO Quality assurance / Sustainability / 021 Objective(s) Acknowledgements This note is a joint work by Tanzina Quddus Dina (Early Years Fellow, Bangladesh), Antony Mbithi (Early Years Fellow, Kenya), and Louis Marie Gael Bidzogo Ekobono (Early Years Fellow, Cameroon) at the World Bank under the Early Learning Partnership (ELP) Early Years Fellowship. It was prepared under the guidance of the childcare capstone coach, Frances Mary Beaton-Day (Consultant), the ELP Fellowship Capstone Coordination Team, namely Melissa Diane Kelly (Education Specialist), Alisa Currimjee (Consultant), and Catalina Quintero (Consultant). Their guidance and support were instrumental in completing this project. We extend our gratitude to our peer reviewers, Joan Lombardi, PhD (Georgetown University, Stanford Centre on Early Childhood, Early Opportunities Initiative) and Zaineb Majoka (Economist), as well as Maniza Ntekim (Hilton Foundation), for their critical insights and constructive feedback that significantly improved the quality of our work. We would also like to express our special gratitude to our key informant interviewers, BRAC Institute of Education Development, BRAC University in Bangladesh, Nurture First Initiative in Kenya, and SEWA Cooperative in India whose contributions were incredibly valuable for the development of this work. Lastly, we are deeply indebted to the participants at the Eastern Africa Regional ECD Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Their insights and expertise greatly enriched our understanding and perspective on the subject matter. Suggested Citation: Dina, T.Q., Mbithi, A. and Ekobono, L.M.G.B. 2025. Guidance Note on Home-Based Childcare for Low-income Communities. Washington, DC : World Bank. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. 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