World Bank Releases New Childcare Resource Materials

November 11, 2025 – The World Bank’s Invest in Childcare Initiative launched in 2022 and to expand access to quality, affordable childcare in low- and middle- income countries. The Invest in Childcare work program combines catalytic country grants, research and upstream analytical work, operations and policy dialogue, to develop and deliver more and better investments in childcare. The Invest in Childcare team is continually learning from in-country experiences and developing resources that can be used by policymakers and civil society organizations as they work to advance childcare quality and access in their contexts.

Recent resources released include:

  • Essential Elements of Quality in Childcare Settings guidance note. This note provides guidance on how to ensure the quality of childcare delivered in different settings – including daycares, nurseries, home-based childcare, creches, and preschools. It outlines the basic elements of quality needed across all programs, focusing on key principles that can be flexibly implemented in different contexts and with varying resources.
  • Rationale for Investing in Childcare policy brief. This brief that highlights the evidence on the benefits of expanding access to quality, affordable childcare. It suggests steps governments can take to work on the childcare agenda through a range of different sectors and types of policies and programs.
  • Introduction to Investing in Childcare online course. self-paced course designed for practitioners, policymakers, and others who are interested in understanding the rationale for investing in childcare. The course is free, virtual, and can be completed at your own pace. It is hosted on the World Bank’s Open Learning Campus. First time users will need to create an account to access the course. The course explores why childcare matters, the scale of the global childcare challenge, and actions governments can take to ensure childcare is available, affordable, of decent quality, and responsive to the needs of all families. Throughout, the course highlights a variety of childcare provision models in diverse contexts with a practical focus on challenges, good practices, and lessons learned.

Additional materials and future resources can be found at the Invest in Childcare Initiative’s website. Presentations from the Emerging Learnings Stakeholder Meeting that took place in November 2025 are also available online.

 

 

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