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

Despite evidence from other regions, researchers and policy-makers remain skeptical that women’s disproportionate childcare responsibilities act as a significant barrier to women’s economic empowerment in Africa. This randomized control trial study in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, demonstrates that limited access to affordable early childcare inhibits poor urban women’s participation in paid work.

Co-authored by Shelley Clark (McGill), Caroline W. Kabiru (APHRC), Sonia Laszlo (McGill) and Stella Muthuri (APHRC)