Transforming the Lives of Vulnerable Mothers and Children in Urban Settings By Building a Network of Standard-Setting Self-Sustaining Daycares

Poor and inadequate childcare in informal urban settlements is a challenge that is faced in cities worldwide. inadequate childcare holds back children from realizing their lifetime potential, keeping them on the back foot for life. The impacts of poor childcare reverberates on multiple levels – developmental, economic and health. In Africa, which is poised to have 1 billion children below 5 by the year 2050, the detrimental impact of poor childcare in dragging the continent’s future prospects cannot be underestimated. Children in urban settlements where the majority use informal childcare have the worst health indicators in the country, with 12% higher mortality rates than children in affluent urban or even rural areas. Stunting, the result of chronic undernourishment is high, up to 47% vs 20% national average. Indeed, the cost of child malnutrition alone in Africa is estimated at USD $25 billion per year.