Imagine a world where every child thrives, and every mother pursues her dreams without compromise. Today, millions of children still lack quality childcare, while countless women leave the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities. These barriers hold back not only individuals but entire communities, hindering the broader economic and social progress we could be seeing if women and children had the right support.

The World Bank raises a critical question: What happens when access to quality childcare meets women’s economic empowerment? Its study suggests that addressing both together can break cycles of poverty, strengthen families and drive inclusive growth.

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and its partners have been working for over 50 years to improve access to quality early learning and empower women across 15 countries, already reaching millions of children and families. The question now is: How can we more deliberately integrate these two areas of work and scale our impact alongside other key actors – ensuring no child, woman or family is left behind?

Breaking barriers for women and children

Quality early learning opportunities transform children’s growth and well-being. As Nafisa Shekhova, AKF’s Global Lead for Education and Early Childhood Development (ECD), explains, “If children have access to quality care, they receive responsive caregiving, early learning opportunities, proper nutrition, and a safe and secure environment.” These early experiences shape future success, influencing everything from educational attainment to employability and social skills.

But in underserved areas, quality childcare is often too far or too costly. Nearly 80 percent of the 350 million children without access to childcare live in lower-income countries, leaving many mothers with no choice but to abandon work or education. This reinforces cycles of poverty and inequality, limiting opportunities for both them and their children.

Fortunately, early learning opportunities aren’t limited to large, costly centres. With training and resources, caregivers can create enriching spaces anywhere. As Nafisa notes, “Research shows that responsive communication between a child and caregiver is essential for brain development, especially in infancy and early childhood.” In such settings, everyday objects, handmade toys and natural elements can become powerful tools for learning and discovery, supporting growth through both guided and free play.

This thinking is driving solutions.

In Nairobi, Kenya, AKF partnered with Frigoken, a vegetable processing company that employs a largely female workforce from the surrounding community. While the plant provided onsite childcare, space reached capacity during peak seasons, prompting many women to place their children with untrained home-based caregivers. To address this, AKF provided training and support to these caregivers along with low-cost resources to nurture young children through play. Using portable toy kits, caregivers created joyful, stimulating environments. These solutions provided safe childcare, allowing mothers to work confidently.

In Lisbon, Portugal, home-based childminders are improving childcare access and enabling more parents – especially mothers – to work. AKF has been training over 150 registered childminders, mostly women, to enhance care quality, ensuring trusted childcare options for families while empowering women with stable employment.

These examples show how simple, low-cost solutions can not only expand childcare access but also provide women with the opportunity to pursue employment or education, boosting their income and confidence. As a result, their children and families experience lasting benefits, from improved health and well-being to brighter prospects for the future.

Changing perceptions of childcare

Even when affordable and within close reach, families may hesitate to enrol their children in childcare centres if the benefits aren’t clear. In communities where caregiving is viewed as a mother’s responsibility, using childcare services may challenge traditional roles.

To tackle these issues, AKF develops strategies to communicate the long-term benefits of ECD – not just for children, but for families and communities. This includes providing culturally relevant information and engaging local support networks to demonstrate how quality childcare services can be a resource for long-term prosperity.

In rural Tajikistan, AKF used a Human-Centred Design approach to collaborate with mothers, community leaders, education specialists and women’s committees. Together, they created solutions for high-quality childcare services and entrepreneurship opportunities for women. This led to the establishment of a multifunctional centre offering early learning alongside a bakery and sewing shop, both run as social enterprises by local women.

These preferences matter, especially in communities reluctant about external childcare. Building trust in these services ensures they are viewed as an extension of, not a break from, family traditions.

Creating jobs and a stronger care economy

Expanding childcare benefits families and strengthens a sector crucial to the economy. The World Bank estimates that increasing access to childcare could create up to 43 million new jobs globally, boosting employment opportunities, especially for women, and enabling greater workforce participation. This makes childcare a powerful driver of both social and economic progress.

The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme in East Africa has supported early education for over 40 years, helping establish 250 community-run preschools and training thousands of women. “Many who began as preschool teachers in their communities with only primary education have since advanced to positions in private preschools or local government,” says Nafisa.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, where only 34 percent of urban and 20 percent of rural children have access to quality care and early learning, hundreds of women are receiving support to establish or improve childcare centres. Training in entrepreneurship, ECD and regulations – along with seed grants – has enabled over 80 women to launch centres, filling service gaps, creating jobs and advancing gender equality.

These initiatives create ripple effects. When women gain skills, income and financial independence, they reinvest in their families and communities. At scale, communities benefit from a healthier, better-educated population and a stronger, more inclusive economy.

Next steps

How do we ensure childcare is a right, not a luxury?

The first step is fostering an environment that supports women and children at every stage. “We still have huge numbers of girls that are not in school, so their education is really important, and that starts in the early years,” says Nafisa. “As girls grow into adolescence, how do we ensure their health, development and well-being? As adults, how do we ensure maternity/paternity leave and access to affordable childcare?” Coordinated support – from early education to workforce policies – can break cycles of inequality and create lasting change.

Strengthening the care economy is critical. Women make up the majority of caregivers – whether for young children or the elderly – yet these roles remain undervalued and underpaid. “What policies exist at the government level? What training? And what about fair wages?” Nafisa asks. “Care work should be recognised as decent work, and caregivers should be paid what they deserve.” Stronger government action is needed to invest in caregivers and elevate their work. Collaboration across government, civil society and the private sector is essential to building a sustainable, supportive childcare ecosystem.

Childcare is one of the smartest investments we can make – foundational to health, stability and prosperity. Realising this vision requires policies that ensure universal access, helping every child thrive and every woman reach her potential. This means measurable outcomes: better child development, higher maternal workforce participation and reduced gender disparities. With the right policies, childcare can be a public good that fuels progress.