This report reviews Uganda's legal, policy, and institutional framework for center-based childcare provision for children under three, providing critical insights for the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises Uganda (GROW) project. Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, GROW seeks to reduce barriers and increase access to entrepreneurial services to enable women entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises in targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. Key findings include limited access to affordable childcare, particularly for low-income families and informal sector workers, and a lack of comprehensive quality standards, such as on caregiver qualifications, caregiver-to-child ratios, and clear licensing and inspection mechanisms. To address these challenges, the report recommends expanding financial support for families, incentivizing nonstate and employer-supported childcare, and establishing a quality assurance framework with minimum standards for caregiver qualifications, group sizes, and health and safety protocols. Improved institutional coordination and an information management system are also recommended to strengthen oversight and support for childcare providers, ultimately fostering better economic and developmental outcomes.
Authors
- Disclosure Date
- 2024/11/11
- Disclosure Status
- Disclosed
- Doc Name
- Caring for the Youngest - Regulatory Framework for Center-Based Childcare for Children Under Three in Uganda
- Lending Instrument
- Investment Project Financing
- Pages
- 46
- Product Line
- IBRD/IDA
- Published in
- United States of America
- Rel Proj ID
- UG-Generating Growth Opportunities And Productivity For Women Ente -- P176747
- TF No/Name
- TF0B7809-Enhancing Women Entrepreneurs Social and Economic Empowerment in Uganda,TF0C0088-Uganda: Enabling Childcare Services for Women Entrepreneurs in Uganda (,TF0C5383-ENHANCING WOMEN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT IN UGANDA 2.0
- Unit Owning
- Social Dev AFR 2 (SAES2)
- Version Type
- Final
- Volume No
- 1
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments 4
- Abbreviations and Acronyms 6
- Key Terms 7
- 1. Introduction 9
- The Disproportionate Burden of Childcare on Women 9
- Childcare Provision for Children Under Three in Uganda 10
- Purpose and Scope of the Study 12
- Method 13
- Limitations 14
- 2. Availability of Childcare Services 15
- Types of Provision 15
- Convenience 16
- 3. Affordability of Childcare Services 19
- 4. Quality of Childcare Services 21
- Basic Requirements and Minimum Quality Standards 21
- Licensing and Registration of Childcare Providers 21
- Infrastructure Standards 23
- Pedagogy and Curricula 23
- Child-to-Staff Ratios, Maximum Group Size, and Childcare Workforce 23
- Monitoring and Inspections 24
- 5. Institutional Framework for Childcare Provision 27
- 6. Conclusions and Recommendations 33
- Conclusions 33
- Recommendations 33
- References 41
- Appendix A. Documents Reviewed 44
- Appendix B. List of Key Informants 45
