Across the world, childcare has emerged as one of the most critical yet underfunded components of national development. Economists at the World Bank and UNICEF consistently stress that early childhood care is not merely a welfare issue; it is a cornerstone of economic growth, social mobility, and gender equity. Global studies reveal that investing in early childhood development (ECD) yields a return of up to $13 for every $1 spent, through increased productivity, reduced crime, improved health outcomes, and better educational attainment.
Yet, the situation remains dire: globally, more than 350 million children under the age of five do not have access to quality childcare. In low- and middle-income countries, the figure is even more worrisome, with only one in five children attending any form of organised early learning before primary school. Sub-Saharan Africa, with its rapidly growing population and high fertility rates, is at the heart of this crisis. The implications are profound for the continent’s future, given that over 40% of Africa’s population is under the age of 15.
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Recent data published by UNICEF in 2024 exposes a glaring gap in government priorities across the continent. On average, African governments spend 16 times more on a 15-year-old than they do on a toddler. Only 6.5% of public spending allocated to children goes toward those aged 0 to 5, compared to 28% in G20 countries. This means that Africa’s youngest citizens, those at the most impressionable and vulnerable stage of development, are left without the foundational support required for healthy growth.
In educational budgets, the disparity is just as stark. Less than 2% of education budgets in sub-Saharan Africa are directed toward pre-primary education, while tertiary institutions receive up to 20% of funding. This funding model contradicts extensive global evidence showing that the earlier the educational intervention, the higher the return on investment. A 2023 study by the African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) and the World Bank noted that inadequate investment in ECD could cost African economies up to 10% of their GDP in long-term productivity losses.
Counting the Real Cost
In a continent where a large percentage of the population lives below the poverty line, the cost of raising a child is significant. A comparative 2023 survey revealed that urban households in Nigeria spend approximately $250 annually per child under five on basic needs, while families in South Africa spend closer to $600, with childcare costs comprising up to 30% of that figure. This puts an extraordinary burden on low-income families, many of whom operate in informal economies without state support.
Moreover, the absence of subsidised or accessible childcare forces many women, particularly in urban slums and rural communities, to choose between earning a livelihood and caregiving. A study by the World Bank in 2023 showed that nearly 80% of women in sub-Saharan Africa cite lack of childcare as a barrier to entering or staying in the workforce. The economic impact is considerable: A McKinsey Global Institute report finds that $12 trillion could be added to global GDP by 2025 by advancing women’s equality. The public, private, and social sectors will need to act to close gender gaps in work and society. It is also estimated that bridging the gender participation gap, with childcare support as a key pillar, could add $316 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
From Crisis to Creative Community Models
Despite the structural gaps, there are emerging models of success across the continent that illustrate the potential of well-implemented childcare programmes. In Mozambique, the government, in partnership with Save the Children and UNICEF, piloted a low-cost, community-run preschool program. By 2023, over 70,000 children had been enrolled, with independent evaluations confirming improved school readiness and cognitive skills. Simultaneously, local women employed as carers saw their incomes and social status rise.
In Kenya, the Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub launched a childcare facility in Busia for cross-border women traders. By providing safe, affordable childcare, the centre enabled more than 200 women to increase their business hours and improve their earnings within a year. In Nigeria, a 2022 public-private initiative in Lagos led to the opening of 25 daycare centres in low-income communities, with support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and development partners. The pilot’s success demonstrated a scalable, cost-effective model that other African cities could replicate.
What Africa Stands to Gain
The economics of childcare are inseparable from the issue of gender equality. Across the continent, women carry out more than 75% of unpaid care work, including childcare. This unpaid labour remains invisible in national accounts yet is indispensable to social and economic functioning. When women are forced out of the labour market due to caregiving responsibilities, not only do families suffer financially, but national economies lose out on valuable productivity and talent.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) argues that investing in care infrastructure, including childcare, is a pathway to creating millions of jobs for both men and women. For Africa, this could translate to new industries and professional opportunities in care work, early education, and maternal health. Moreover, the positive impact on children’s development helps break intergenerational poverty, reducing future public expenditure on health, welfare, and remediation.
Ethics, Equity, and the Rights of the Child
Beyond the economic metrics lies a moral imperative. Article 18 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by every African nation except the United States, clearly outlines the state’s duty to support parents in raising their children. Yet, millions of African children lack access to safe, nurturing environments due to government neglect and market failures.
This is not just a matter of missed developmental milestones; it is a breach of fundamental rights. Investing in childcare is a recognition of children’s dignity and potential. The ethical argument extends further: denying women the infrastructure to balance caregiving and economic participation deepens inequality, entrenching cycles of exclusion and poverty. Any vision of inclusive development in Africa must prioritise the youngest and the most vulnerable.
Towards a Care Economy
Africa’s leaders are beginning to recognise that childcare is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 outlines “investing in children” as a key goal, while countries like Rwanda and South Africa have begun incorporating ECD programmes into national development plans. Yet progress remains uneven, and financing gaps persist.
To achieve real transformation, governments must reframe childcare as essential infrastructure, just like roads, hospitals, and schools. This shift requires not only increased budgetary allocation but also innovation in delivery, partnership with the private sector, and robust community engagement. Donors and development agencies must also step up, aligning aid with country-led strategies and ensuring that childcare is integrated into broader conversations about labour, health, and education.
Building the Future by Caring for the Present
Africa’s promise lies in its people, and more than half of them are children. The care and investment extended to them today will determine the continent’s trajectory tomorrow. The economics and ethics of childcare converge on a singular truth: ignoring early childhood is a costly mistake. Whether viewed through the lens of GDP growth, gender equity, or human rights, the argument for childcare is irrefutable.
What remains is for Africa to act decisively, comprehensively, and urgently to ensure that its youngest citizens are not left behind. A truly rising Africa is one that does not just build its roads and bridges but nurtures its children with equal ambition.
