Invest in Childcare Update : July 2026

Overview & Synopsis

This paper provides an update on the World Bank’s Invest in Childcare initiative, highlighting progress in expanding quality childcare investments through grants, research, policy support, and capacity-building activities across more than 70 countries. The presentation showcases achievements including 73 catalytic grants, 20 government match-funding grants, 29 impact evaluations, and the graduation of the first Childcare Policy Academy cohort. It also reviews the rapid growth of the World Bank’s childcare portfolio from 2019–2025 and features a country spotlight on Uganda, illustrating how childcare reforms and targeted investments can enhance women’s economic participation, improve child development outcomes, and support inclusive growth