Guidance Note on Home-Based Childcare For Low-Income Communities

This note provides guidance for policymakers, World Bank country teams, and development practitioners to enhance the quality, affordability, and sustainability of home-based childcare (HBC) services in low-income settings. It outlines a comprehensive approach to recognizing HBC as a public good and incorporating it into policies, programs, and financing. The note makes key recommendations across four domains: (1) workforce development, (2) nutritional support, (3) establishing a quality assurance system, and (4) access to financial support. The proposed strategies include accredited training programs, state-supported nutrition programs, formal registration and oversight of HBC providers, and various financing models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), grant-based financing, cooperative models, and access to microcredit. These measures are designednb to improve childcare services, support providers, and ultimately contribute to better developmental outcomes for children and increase female labor force participation (FLFP) and productivity, particularly in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs)