This research evaluates the second phase of BRAC’s play lab home-based daycare program, which focuses on scaling a standardized, high-quality home-based childcare model.
Researchers: Munshi Sulaiman; Ferdousi Khanom; Raisa Adiba
Partners: BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BRAC IED); Bainum Family Foundation
Timeline: 2026-2028
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Raisa Adiba; raisa.adiba@bracu.ac.bd
Context
Urban working families, especially in garment-worker communities, face acute shortages of affordable, high-quality childcare, constraining women’s labour force participation and children’s development. Since 2020, BRAC has piloted a community-embedded, play-based home-based daycare model that has shown strong uptake, trust, and feasibility. Lessons from the pilot underscored the need for a clear quality framework to ensure consistency, accountability, and long-term sustainability across centres.
Objective
The purpose the study is to strengthen the quality, sustainability, and professionalisation of home-based childcare in low-income urban areas of Bangladesh, improving early childhood development outcomes while creating dignified livelihood opportunities for women care entrepreneurs.
Methodology
Building on prior evidence and implementation experience, this phase focuses on scaling a standardized, high-quality home-based childcare model. The project will recruit and train women care entrepreneurs and assistant caregivers across Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, and Dhaka. Service delivery will be supported through a competency-based training package, routine supervision, and fidelity monitoring to ensure safe, inclusive, play-based childcare with extended operating hours. A formal Quality Standard for Home-Based Childcare will anchor service provision, monitoring, and entrepreneur graduation.
Findings and Recommendations
Forthcoming.
