Childcare Report Release - 24th October 2024
EFFECTS OF ACCESSING CHILDCARE SERVICES ON WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
A Case of Cross-Border Traders at Kenya/Uganda Border
The WEE Hub is proud to release the report Effects of Accessing Childcare Services on Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Case of Cross-Border Traders at the Kenya/Uganda Border. This study examines how access to affordable childcare impacts the economic participation of women engaged in cross-border trade at Busia and Namanga, Kenya’s key trade hubs. Conducted in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the report highlights the significant challenges women traders face in balancing childcare and business. Before the introduction of childcare services, many women were forced to take their children to work or rely on friends and relatives, leading to reduced productivity and limited business opportunities. The findings underscore the urgent need for accessible childcare, especially for women in micro and informal sectors, to support their economic empowerment.
The report also showcases the positive outcomes of a childcare center established at the Busia border in 2021 by the WEE Hub, in partnership with other stakeholders. Over one year, the childcare service enabled women traders to work longer hours, diversify their markets beyond Busia, and expand their businesses. Additionally, the study found a gradual shift in gender norms, with more men participating in childcare responsibilities, which has contributed to improved household dynamics and reduced gender-based violence. The report concludes that investments in childcare are essential for women's economic empowerment and recommends policy measures to reduce and redistribute care work. These include building more childcare facilities, involving men in unpaid care work, and encouraging civil society to advocate for supportive childcare policies.