USAID WEE COP September 2023 Learning Event: Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Early Childhood Care Programming

The event brought together experts from various organizations, including the World Bank, USAID, and the Center for Global Development. Early childhood care refers to regular care provided for a child between birth and primary school entry by someone who is not the primary caregiver. This includes various models of care at different child ages, such as care in the child's home, care in a neighbor's home, private daycare, and public daycare. The types of care available vary by age group, with different options available for children aged 0-3, 3-5, and 5-6. Research has shown that childcare interventions can have a significant impact on women's economic advancement and other outcomes. Two key questions about the impact of care are: how do childcare interventions affect women's economic advancement and other outcomes, and is there a trade-off for children's outcomes? Studies have found that access to childcare can enable women to participate in the workforce, leading to increased economic empowerment and improved livelihoods. The USAID WEE CoP Learning Event aimed to provide a platform for sharing evidence and facilitating learning among members on early childhood care programming. The event's learning objectives included understanding early childhood care programming, the impacts on women, and the gaps in evidence that remain. Participants also sought to learn about existing public and private models to implement early childhood care, opportunities to scale, and emerging approaches. The event featured a presentation by David Evans, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, who discussed the importance of early childhood care in promoting women's economic empowerment. The presentation highlighted the various models of care available and the potential impact of childcare interventions on women's economic advancement and other outcomes. A moderated panel discussion and questions followed the presentation, providing a platform for participants to engage with the topic and share their experiences and insights. The event concluded with a wrap-up and announcements, marking the end of the USAID WEE CoP Learning Event on early childhood care programming. The USAID WEE CoP has a membership of over 2,000 individuals, and its primary goals include gathering and sharing evidence, facilitating learning among members, and fostering engagement opportunities. The organization aims to support the development of effective early childhood care programs that promote women's economic empowerment and improve livelihoods.