The World Bank has announced pledges of at least $180 million in support of its Childcare Incentive Fund focused on expanding access to quality, affordable child care in low- and middle-income countries globally.

The program is supported by a five-year, $50 million pledge from the United States, other pledges from Australia and Canada, and commitments from the Ford, Bill & Melinda Gates, Conrad N. Hilton, William and Flora Hewlett, and LEGO foundations and Echidna Giving. The effort is aligned with the call-to-action made in the March 2022 report from the World Bank warning that more than 40 percent of children below primary-school age—nearly 350 million children—are in need of child care, but do not have access to it.

Through direct grants to countries, match funding for projects, technical assistance to teams, and capacity-building grants, the fund will focus on making the case for child care and prompting countries to implement projects that can maximize benefits to children, women, and families. The fund also will support global data collection and evaluations that consider the holistic impact of child care and the development of new tools.

“Nearly eight out of 10 children who need [child care] live in low- and middle-income countries. At a time when developing economies are hit hard by the pandemic and the impacts of the war in Ukraine, expanding quality, affordable childcare is essential for women to be able to go back to work, open up more economic opportunities, and help young children thrive,” said Mari Pangestu, World Bank managing director of development policy and partnerships. “Smart investments in [child care] can help countries accelerate equality, build human capital, and promote economic growth in the long term.”

(Photo credit: GettyImages/Chris de Beer-Procter)