The Impact of Childcare on Poor Urban Women’s Economic Empowerment in Africa

This study from Nairobi, Kenya, shows that limited access to affordable early childcare is a significant barrier to poor urban women’s economic participation. A randomized control trial offering vouchers for subsidized childcare increased employment among women by 8.5 percentage points, particularly among married mothers. Single mothers used the opportunity to transition to jobs with more regular hours, improving their work-life balance without reducing earnings. However, access to subsidized childcare had mixed effects on other aspects of women’s economic empowerment and did not significantly influence household decision-making or fertility intentions. The findings highlight that addressing
childcare needs is crucial for enhancing women’s economic empowerment in urban Africa, though impacts vary by marital status and specific outcomes.

Clark, s., C. Kabiru, Sonia Laszlo, S. Muthuri (2019). “The Impact of Childcare on Poor Urban Women’s Economic Empowerment in Africa.” Demography.