Childcare is increasingly recognized as a vital component in shaping the future of nations by fostering human capital, enhancing parental productivity, and driving economic growth. In West Africa, this recognition is growing, highlighting the importance of accessible and high-quality childcare for empowering women, reducing poverty, and promoting equitable development.
However, expanding childcare services in West Africa presents significant challenges. Only 28% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are enrolled in early childhood education compared to 58% globally in lower-middle-income countries. Data from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire indicate that less than 1% of children under three participate in pre-nursery programs.
Key obstacles include limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of trained professionals. Most countries do not meet the International Labour Organization’s suggested early childhood education public spending target of 1% of GDP. This shortfall results in families bearing care responsibilities and financing burdens. Societal norms and gender biases further hinder women's workforce participation, complicating efforts to promote childcare.
Tailored approaches are necessary to address these challenges across the region's diverse socio-economic landscape. Community-based solutions, public-private partnerships, and sustainable financing models are essential to overcome barriers and ensure accessibility for all families, especially those marginalized or low-income.
Investing in childcare yields substantial economic and social returns. Studies from Uruguay suggest that every dollar invested can yield up to seven dollars in economic returns due to increased female labor force participation, enhanced parental productivity, and improved child development outcomes.
Childcare enables parents to work longer hours with more predictability, increasing household income and boosting national productivity. It supports early childhood development, laying foundations for better education and workforce outcomes contributing to long-term economic growth.
Recent achievements in West African childcare include Burkina Faso's integration of mobile facilities with World Bank-financed projects enhancing women's earnings and uptake. Senegal has advanced national-scale preschool programs with a new curriculum supported by Bank funding. Cameroon provides services enabling displaced parents to engage in income-generating activities fostering community resilience. Côte d’Ivoire expanded a community-based approach from 140 pilot sites to over 2300 sites with plans for nationwide coverage by 2030.
These initiatives have improved children's access to quality early education while empowering women through greater workforce participation.
The upcoming Regional Childcare Conference in Cabo Verde offers an opportunity for governments, policymakers, and development partners to commit to expanding affordable high-quality childcare services. By doing so, they can unlock childcare's potential as a driver of economic growth, social equity, and human capital development.
Investing in childcare is both a moral imperative and a strategic economic decision promising significant returns. As the Cabo Verde conference approaches, embracing the transformative power of childcare could change lives across communities and nations.
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