Childcare Expenditures in Africa: Insights for Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment
January 3, 2025 – Childcare and early childhood development (ECD) are critical drivers of gender equity and economic resilience, yet they remain significantly underfunded in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A new policy paper from the Center for Global Development, titled Childcare and Early Childhood Development Expenditures in Africa: Comparative Policy Insights for Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment, co-authored with Astha Mainali, focuses on four African countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal. This paper highlights substantial gaps in public investment and policies, underscoring the pressing need to bolster support for ECD to advance women’s economic empowerment.
