A significant gap exists between women's potential economic contribution and their actual contribution, largely due to childcare responsibilities. This is particularly pronounced in low-income urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa where women often juggle informal employment with childcare challenges. The Kidogo model, a social enterprise, addresses this by providing a "Hub & Spoke" model of quality, affordable childcare. Kidogo establishes high-quality early childhood development (ECD) "hubs" and supports local childcare centers ("spokes") run by "mamapreneurs." This study will evaluate the Kidogo model's impact on women's economic empowerment, specifically focusing on labor outcomes, scalability, and cost-effectiveness to inform policy discussions on affordable childcare provision. The study uses Kabeer's (1999) framework of economic empowerment, encompassing resources, agency, and achievements, to conceptualize its evaluation.

Existing research highlights the significant barriers women face in balancing childcare and paid work, especially in low-income settings. Studies from various regions demonstrate a clear link between access to childcare services and increased women's labor force participation and economic activity (Doughman et al., 2017; Clark et al., 2018). The quality and cost of childcare significantly influence women's decisions regarding employment. Challenges are exacerbated in low-income urban areas with limited employment opportunities and weak social support networks for childcare (Kimani-Murage et al., 2015). Studies in Kenya (Muendo, 2014) reveal positive correlations between childcare provision and increased earnings, mobility, and work hours for women. Existing literature underscores the global issue of gender inequality, with women disproportionately burdened by unpaid care work and often relegated to lower-paying jobs (Zahidi, 2013; Samman et al., 2016; United Nations Population Fund, 2017). The need for interventions addressing childcare burdens and promoting women's economic empowerment is evident.

This study employs a quasi-experimental design with intervention and comparison groups (n=170 each) in Nakuru Town West sub-County, Kenya. Participants are primary caregivers utilizing childcare services—those using Kidogo services (intervention) and those using other centers (comparison). A mixed-methods approach combines quantitative data (structured interviews on sociodemographics, labor outcomes, autonomy, and economic knowledge) and qualitative data (interviews with caregivers, fathers, center providers, community leaders, and policymakers). Quantitative data analysis uses a difference-in-differences (DID) estimator and propensity score matching (PSM) to analyze the impact of the Kidogo intervention on labor force participation, work hours, income, household income, time allocated to household tasks, and career advancement. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically using NVivo. A micro-costing approach will assess the intervention's cost-effectiveness, considering start-up and implementation costs. The study duration is one year, with baseline, midline, and endline data collection.

This section will be populated once the study is completed and data analysis is performed. The study expects that the intervention will improve the quality of childcare services which in turn will improve the incomes of the center providers. It also expects that providing improved childcare services will enhance women’s economic empowerment. The quantitative analysis will assess changes in various economic indicators for women in the intervention group compared to the control group over the course of one year. This will involve comparing labor force participation rates, hours worked, income levels, and other relevant economic factors. Qualitative data will provide insights into the processes through which the Kidogo model affects women's lives, their perceptions of its impact, and the challenges and facilitators encountered during the intervention period.

The findings will address the research question concerning the effectiveness of the Kidogo model in empowering women economically. The study will discuss the significance of the results within the context of existing literature on childcare and women's economic empowerment, particularly in low-income urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. The discussion will contextualize the findings within the broader policy landscape and suggest possible implications for scaling up effective childcare models and promoting gender equality. The discussion will also explore the limitations of the study and highlight any unexpected findings or challenges encountered.

This study will provide valuable evidence on the impact of a scalable childcare model on women's economic empowerment. The findings will inform policy discussions on affordable childcare provision and contribute to the body of knowledge on effective interventions to improve women's economic opportunities and gender equality. Future research could explore the long-term impacts of the Kidogo model, its adaptability to different contexts, and its effectiveness in addressing other social determinants of women's economic well-being.

Potential limitations include the quasi-experimental design's inherent challenges in establishing causality, potential selection bias despite matching efforts, and the geographic limitation of the study to a specific area in Kenya. The reliance on self-reported data might introduce some recall bias. The study duration of one year may not capture long-term effects sufficiently.