Tenders are invited for Business Development Services (BDS) Analysis for the Childcare Sector in Kenya and Malawi. Closing Date: 8 Sep 2025 Type: Consultancy Introduction World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors, including Global Affairs Canada; the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO); the MasterCard Foundation; the World Bank; the Asian Development Bank; and the African Development Bank. The ACT Project The Action for Paid Childcare Sector Transformation (ACT) project is a 4-year collaborative initiative that uses an innovative systems approach to drive gender-transformative, locally-owned, collaborative action to transform paid childcare from a job of last resort to a vocation of choice. The project also aspires for the paid childcare sector to become one of economic prosperity for women in Kenya and Malawi. ACT aligns with Canadas commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and empowerment, SDG 8 on decent work for all, and Canadas Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) action area on growth that works for everyone. ACT responds to recognition within the global policy agenda that women are overrepresented within the largely informal paid care economy, where they face low pay, poor working conditions, limited social protection, and rights abuses. These are key barriers that contribute to significant poverty among women-paid childcare providers, and that limit potential for their economic empowerment. The barriers also severely limit women-paid childcare providers ability to deliver quality childcare services. Women are the primary participants in the paid childcare economies of Kenya and Malawi. This sector has a high economic opportunity for women due to the potential for sustainable demand for childcare services; however, this opportunity is unrealized. The essence of ACTs Theory of Change (ToC) is that the economic empowerment of women childcare providers in Kenya and Malawi can only be achieved if systemic, gender transformative change is driven and owned by local ecosystem actors. ACTs systems approach tackles the most pressing underlying issues by working with key actors in Kenya and Malawi who influence those issues. ACT will enable coordination, knowledge, capacity, and performance improvements to address gender-based inequities. Geographically, ACT focuses on areas with large concentrations of women childcare providers, seeking opportunities to support rural and urban providers, including the most marginalized, and where project partners have existing networks, starting in Kenya. In Kenya the project is focused on both supply and demand for childcare in Nairobi and Kisumu, while in Kakamega the focus is on the supply side, recognizing that many childcare workers come from Kakamega to provide services in larger cities such as Nairobi and Kisumu. In Malawi, activities will focus on both the supply and demand side in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Key Areas of Intervention The ultimate outcome of ACT is: Enhanced economic empowerment of women paid childcare providers in Kenya and Malawi (1000) The intermediate outcomes are: Improved gender responsive performance of childcare ecosystem actors in Kenya and Malawi (1100) Enhanced protection and promotion of the rights and needs of women paid childcare providers in Kenya and Malawi (1200) Enhanced provision of gender responsive financial and business services and models by support service providers to women paid childcare providers in Kenya and Malawi (1300) The immediate outcomes are: Improved gender responsive coordination among childcare ecosystem actors (1110) Improved capacity of childcare ecosystem actors to develop and deliver gender and disability responsive training and certification supporting womens advancement in the paid childcare sector (1120) Improved capacity of childcare ecosystem actors to develop and implement gender transformative policy and regulation regarding the paid childcare sector (1210) Improved capacity of childcare ecosystem actors to champion and uphold the rights of women paid childcare providers (1220) Improved capacity of business service providers and enterprises to provide gender responsive business services and models that meet the needs of women paid childcare providers (1310) Improved capacity of financial service providers to invest in women childcare providers while applying a gender lens (1320) The relevant BDS outputs are: Support provided to business service providers to develop and deliver gender responsive business, finance and entrepreneurship training to women paid childcare providers (1311) Matching grants provided to business service providers to develop and expand innovative and gender-responsive business services and models for women paid childcare providers (1312) Purpose and Objectives The primary objective of this consultancy is to contribute to the overall goal of the ACT Project by providing specialized expertise in understanding the business development ecosystems in Kenya and Malawi that serve and have the potential to serve the childcare sector and developing targeted gender-transformative and inclusive capacity-strengthening solutions for BDS Providers (BDSPs). Specifically, the consultant will: Map the BDS Ecosystem: Map the key BDSPs in Kenya and Malawi to understand their offerings within the paid childcare sector. The goal is to conduct a needs assessment to pinpoint the specific business, finance, and entrepreneurship skill gaps of women childcare providers, aligning with the ACT Projects objectives. Review Existing BDS Approaches: Analyze current training materials and methodologies used by BDSPs, assessing their relevance and effectiveness for childcare businesses and their responsiveness to gender equality considerations, inclusive language, and persons with various disabilities, to inform the ACT Projects interventions. Develop BDS Capacity Strengthening Approach: Design a practical and actionable capacity-strengthening framework for BDSPs, enabling them to effectively tailor their services for childcare entrepreneurs in a gender-responsive and context-relevant manner. Advise on specific capacity strengthening strategies and mechanisms through which the ACT project can engage with BDSPs. Support Matching Grant Program Design: Provide technical support to WUSC staff in the design of a small inclusive granting program intended to directly support the growth and sustainability of childcare businesses, ensuring equitable access and benefit for women entrepreneurs under the ACT Project. 3. Scope of Work The consultant will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks, primarily through a desk review, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). 3.1. BDS Ecosystem Mapping (Kenya & Malawi) Desk Review: Building upon existing information provided by the ACT team, conduct a thorough review of existing literature, reports, government policies, and data related to the paid childcare sector in Kenya and Malawi, explicitly looking for gender-disaggregated data and analyses where available, relevant to the ACT Projects scope. Stakeholder Identification: Identify and categorize key actors in the childcare ecosystem, including government ministries (e.g., social services, education, health, legal), regulatory bodies, industry associations, NGOs/INGOs, financial institutions, existing BDSPs, and representative groups (both national and international, WROs, including those addressing disability, GBV, psychosocial support services, and safeguarding issues) of childcare business owners, noting the gender composition of these groups and their influence. Also, identify the representation of diverse womens voices, particularly those from marginalized groups or individuals with various disabilities, youth, formal and informal, etc. Map key BDS ecosystem actors serving clients in the paid care sector in Kenya and Malawi. Needs Assessment, Challenges and Opportunities Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify business, finance, and entrepreneurship skill gaps and training needs among women paid childcare providers in both countries, building on existing findings. Document the key challenges faced by childcare businesses (e.g., funding access, licensing, infrastructure, qualified staff, market demand, training opportunities, communication, intersectional arrears such as structural inequalities, cultural and social norms that reinforce gender stereotypes, womens participation and agency such as leadership roles, decision-making opportunities, process, and representation of various groups, other skills such as communication, negotiation), and specifically identify those challenges that disproportionately affect women childcare providers. Simultaneously, identify opportunities for growth and innovation that can promote gender equality and inclusion. Regulatory Framework Review: Summarize the key legal and regulatory requirements for establishing and operating childcare businesses in both countries, assessing their gender responsiveness and inclusivity. 3.2. Review of Existing BDS Training Materials and Approaches Data Collection and Analysis: Gather Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4173013/business-development-services-bds-analysis-childcare-sector-kenya-and-malawi
