Kidogo Early Childhood CentresLeveraging female entrepreneurship for affordable quality childcare in Nairobi’s slums



Kidogo is building a network of corporate-owned and franchised early childhood centres in the informal settlements (slums) of Nairobi with all the building blocks young children need to thrive including trained staff, a holistic curriculum, health & nutrition programs and child-friendly spaces that serve local communities and families.
Soon to be rolled out is a ‘business in a box’ micro-franchising initiative that will enable local mothers as “mamapreneurs” to establish new, or formalise their existing, childcare centres with quality service to create a stable income.
By combining early childhood care and education with income generation for women, the enterprise is helping break the intergenerational cycle of poverty in local communities. Children gain access to early childhood learning, unlocking their potential in adulthood, while care giving mothers and siblings can return to work and school.
Partners
The Institute for Human Development at Aga Khan University provides expertise in Monitoring & Evaluation, assessing the pilot program impact on child and family development.
International Child Resource Institute (ICRI) Africa provides technical expertise and guidance to the enterprise on local context, training, and curriculum development. ICRI also contributes financially.
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Supporters

The 2015 SEED Gender Equality Award is supported by UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.