Expression of Interest for Market Analysis of Private Early Childhood Care in Mexico Publication Date: 02/18/2026 12:00 AM EST EOI Deadline: 03/05/2026 11:59 PM EST BACKGROUND: IFC a member of the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Gender is a cross-cutting corporate priority for the World Bank, as highlighted in the World Bank Groups Gender Strategy 2024-2030. The World Bank Gender Department Solutions and Impact Team works toward a private and public sector that provides women, men, and underserved communities with equal economic opportunities as leaders, employees, entrepreneurs, consumers, and community members. We develop research and evidence on the business case and solutions for reducing gender gaps and including underserved groups such as persons with disabilities and LGBTI people; support mobilization through impact investing and social bond principles; work with funds and clients to identify good practices; forge public and private sector partnerships; and provide tailored operational solutions that create economic opportunities and development for all. Lack of access to quality, affordable childcare is a key barrier to womens economic participation and limits the potential of businesses and economies. IFCs Tackling Childcare and Care2Equal programs have developed pioneering research on the business case for family-friendly workplace policies and employer-supported childcare, demonstrating that offering childcare and family-friendly policies is a win-win-win for families, businesses, and economies. While the public sector has an irreplaceable role in the provision and regulation of childcare services, private sector solutions can play a complementary role in supporting working families and increasing access to quality, affordable childcare. In 2024, the World Bank Group launched the Mexico Gender Country Program, a public-private umbrella initiative to support womens economic participation and leadership in the country. Given the relationship between access to childcare and labor market outcomes, IFC aims to generate an evidence-based understanding of the structure, demand, business models, and constraints of private childcare service providers in Mexico. The study will generate a systematic understanding of how the private childcare market operates, who it serves, under what conditions it is financially viable, and how regulatory and institutional factors shape market outcomes. This study will support World Bank Gender Department Solutions and Impact Team ("the client) in the development of a subsequent program designed to support family-friendly workplace policies and access to childcare in Mexico. B. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are to: i. Establish a typology and characterization of the private childcare market, including its size, segmentation, and geographic distribution; and analyze the business models and financial sustainability of private providers. ii. Analyze the current and potential demand for private childcare services considering usage patterns, affordability and quality constraints, and unmet needs. iii. Identify regulatory and compliance constraints that influence provider behavior, market entry, and service provision, including factors affecting quality, scale, and formalization. iv. Identify the financing gap and specific financing needs for private sector childcare service providers, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women-owned MSMEs (WMSMEs), as well as challenges and opportunities for market growth. v. Estimate the market growth potential for care in the next 3-5 years and assess whether there is a business case for financial institutions to invest in the private childcare sector. vi. Recommend strategies for IFC to support growth of the care sector in Mexico through its products and services. In pursuit of the above objectives, the following questions underpin this research: Market Mapping and Provider Characterization What types of private childcare providers operate in Mexico, and how can they be classified by service offering, business model, formality, and scale? What percentage of existing childcare providers is women-owned? What is the geographic distribution of private childcare providers? Which age groups are served, and what are the typical hours of operation and service packages offered? What pricing structures are used across provider types and locations? What national and subnational regulations govern the establishment, licensing, and operation of private childcare providers in Mexico, and how consistent are these requirements across states? Do regulatory pathways differ across different types of providers? To what extent are providers formally registered, licensed, or operating informally? How do land-use, zoning, civil protection, health, and education regulations affect the ability of new childcare providers to enter the market? How will the childcare service market in Mexico grow over the next 35 years under different financing scenarios and analyzed by market segment? Demand Analysis and Use of Private Childcare Services Who are the primary users of private childcare services, in terms of income level, employment status, household composition, and work schedules? What factors influence households decision to use private childcare rather than public or informal alternatives? What are the prevailing price points for private childcare, and how do they relate to household willingness and ability to pay? What unmet demand exists in terms of availability, affordability, hours, quality, or geographic coverage? Business Models and Financial Sustainability of Providers What are the typical cost structures of private childcare providers, including labor, facilities, compliance, and operational costs? What revenue models and pricing strategies are used, and how do these vary by provider type and location? What are the barriers to profitability for businesses? What quality standards apply to childcare provision in Mexico (e.g., staff qualifications, childstaff ratios, infrastructure, curriculum), and how do these standards affect operating costs and pricing? What are the direct and indirect costs of compliance (time, documentation, fees, infrastructure upgrades), and how do these influence provider behavior and business decisions? Under what conditions are private childcare providers financially sustainable? What sources of financing do providers rely on? What is the level of demand for external financing among private childcare providers, and what constraints limit their ability or willingness to access such financing? What financial and non-financial factors enable or hinder scalability, quality improvement, and formalization? Private Sector Investment What financing and non-financial solutions are currently being provided by financial institutions, employers, the government, and other stakeholders to support private childcare providers and grow the childcare economy? What financing and non-financial solutions are needed and/or could be provided to support childcare businesses to become more bankable and profitable? What is the appetite of financial institutions to lend to MSMEs providing childcare services? Do childcare-focused businesses, particularly those that are women-owned, have unique attributes as compared to MSMEs and WSMEs in other sectors that create specific constraints for accessing finance and growing and sustaining their businesses? What business models and activities (e.g. childcare set up, expansion or quality improvements) are financial institutions interested in funding? What products and services can IFC offer to support growth of private sector care provision in Mexico? C. SCOPE OF WORK The World Bank Gender Department Solutions and Impact Team ("the client") is seeking a qualified consulting firm/consortium (the Firm) to research and assess the growth potential of childcare MSMEs (including WMSMEs) and their financial and non-financial needs in Mexico, as well as the appetite of financial institutions to support this growth. The research will build on existing World Bank Group research on employer-supported childcare and answer questions identified above. The assessment will be delivered in Word format. The Firm will also develop an Insights brief in PPT format that summarizes key findings and recommendations from the research. The primary target audiences of the assessments are IFC and IBRD investment and Mexico country teams. In particular, the assessment will be of interest to investment teams working with banks and financial institutions on SME finance, investment teams working with early childhood development and education firms, and investment teams working on labor policy, as well as the World Bank Gender Department. Some of the insights resulting from the assessment may be used for external purposes, at the discretion of the client. Proposed Methodology: The Firm will propose and agree with the client on the methodology to implement this assignment. This project will take place in three phases as outlined below. Phase 1: Preparation and Inception Report During the first phase, the Firm will conduct desk re Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/6606/view.html
