Invest in Childcare : July 2026 Update

Overview & Synopsis

This brief provides an overview of the World Bank’s Invest in Childcare initiative, which aims to expand access to quality, affordable childcare to promote women’s economic empowerment, child development, and inclusive economic growth. Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has committed over 80 million dollar to more than 90 country activities, including grants, impact evaluations, research, policy support, and capacity-building programs. The update highlights key achievements, country examples from Ethiopia and Uganda, growth in the World Bank’s childcare portfolio, progress of the Policy Academy, new knowledge products, and ongoing efforts to strengthen childcare systems and investments worldwide.