Childcare is a critical but under-addressed constraint on women’s economic participation in Nairobi’s market centers, where women traders must balance income generation with caregiving responsibilities under financial and social pressure. This baseline study examines the childcare needs, preferences, and barriers faced by women traders in urban markets, and the implications for their livelihoods and well-being. 

The study was implemented by WoW Mom, in collaboration with Dalberg Research, which provided research expertise, and BSD Group, which supported the development of policy and scaling guidance. Funded under the Scaling Care Innovations in Africa Program led by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), the research draws on quantitative surveys with 600 women traders, focus group discussions across four Nairobi markets, and key informant interviews with government, NGO, and childcare stakeholders. 

Findings show limited access to formal childcare driven by high costs, sanitation and safety concerns, and lack of nearby services. Women expressed strong demand for affordable, market-based daycare (at around KES 100–150 per day) and highlighted the potential of quality childcare to unlock economic participation. The report outlines evidence-based recommendations for scaling accessible childcare through public–private partnerships and strengthened county-level policy frameworks. 

Read the full report to know more.