Development of a Case Study on the Value of Childcare Work in the Economic Empowerment of Women - Coalition on Violence against Women -COVAW

About Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW)

The Coalition on Violence Against Women(COVAW) is an organization that is focused on influencing sustained engagement on violations committed against women and girls in Kenya, with emphasis on Gender-Based Violence. COVAW envisions a society where women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedoms and thrive in safe spaces.

COVAW’s interventions deliberately address norms, attitudes, laws, policies, and practices that affect women and girls’ safety and well-being in general. This is done through the implementation of gender transformative practices and supporting the development of regulatory and institutional frameworks.

Background

Care work, particularly childcare, is an essential service that enables parents, especially mothers, to participate in the formal economy. Within this vital sector, paid childcare work takes various forms, including the invaluable contributions of domestic workers providing home-based care, and the structured environments of daycare centers and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers. While these services underpin the broader economy, the women who primarily perform this paid childcare work often face sexual & physical abuse, hostile working conditions, low wages, limited social protection, and a lack of recognition for their critical role.

Globally, and particularly in Kenya, women constitute the vast majority of the paid childcare workforce. Despite their significant contributions to household incomes, economic development, and children’s well-being, their own economic empowerment is often constrained by the undervaluation of their labor, gender biases, and systemic challenges within the care economy.

Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy seeks to develop a compelling case study that illuminates the economic value of paid childcare work, with a specific emphasis on the lived experiences, challenges, and opportunities for economic empowerment among the women who perform this work across domestic settings, daycare centres, and ECD centres.

The case study will serve as an advocacy tool, inform policy recommendations, and highlight best practices for stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, employers, and communities, to better support and empower these vital women workers.

In addition, we envision that the case study will comprehensively document and analyze how care work, particularly paid childcare work, contributes to the economic empowerment of women in Kenya.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based case study that highlights both the intrinsic and economic value of paid childcare work.

The study will demonstrate how paid childcare directly contributes to and enhances the economic empowerment of women childcare providers

Specific objectives include:

To explore the contribution of paid Childcare work to women’s livelihoods and economic independence.
To identify the key challenges and barriers faced by women engaged in Childcare work, including legal, social, and economic constraints.
To document lived experiences and success stories of 2 women and 1 man in the care sector, highlighting pathways to empowerment.
To recommend actions and policy interventions for the recognition, formalization, and protection of childcare work in Kenya.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be expected to:

Conduct a desk review of relevant literature, policy frameworks, and legal instruments related to care work and women’s economic empowerment.
Undertake qualitative fieldwork including interviews and/or focus group discussions with all relevant stakeholders, including the paid childcare providers, government entities and CSOs.
Identify and develop at least three (3) case profiles of 2 women & 1 man whose childcare work has contributed significantly to their economic empowerment.
Analyze the link between childcare work and broader social protection issues such as income security, access to healthcare, and labour rights.
Provide recommendations on how care work can be better recognized, protected, and supported through policy, programming, and legal reform.

Deliverables

The consultant will also be responsible for:

Inception Report – Detailing the proposed methodology, tools for data collection, and a work plan.
Draft Case Study Report – Including preliminary findings, case profiles, and initial analysis for COVAW to review.
Final Case Study Report – A refined and edited version incorporating feedback from COVAW, complete with recommendations.
Summary Presentation – A PowerPoint presentation highlighting key findings, case stories, and recommendations.

COVAW will be responsible for:

Holding an inception meeting with the consultant
Provision of relevant supporting documentation is instrumental in this process.
Review and give timely feedback on the consultant’s tools and all draft documents submitted during the assignment.
Assign a staff member to support the consultant with coordination and information exchange throughout the consultancy.

Timelines

The exercise is anticipated to take a maximum of 15 working days:

Start– 15^th September 2025
End– 3^rd October 2025

Qualifications and Experience Required

The ideal consultant(s) should possess the following:

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Law, Development Studies, Sociology, Economics, or a related social science field. A master’s degree will be considered an added advantage.
Demonstrated experience in conducting gender-focused research, particularly in the areas of labour rights, the informal economy, or women’s economic empowerment.
A proven track record in developing case studies or analytical reports for advocacy and/or policy engagement.
Strong research and documentation skills, with the ability to center and amplify the voices of marginalized women.
In-depth knowledge of Kenya’s policy and legal frameworks related to care work, gender equality, and social protection.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili.
Prior experience working in informal settlement contexts and with women-led or grassroots initiatives is desirable.

Application process

Interested consultants/firms must submit the following documents:

Technical proposal, which must include the following:
Proposed proposal and methodology to be used for the work, not more than 5 pages
Consultants’ past experience in the thematic area, supported by at least one soft copy of relevant reports in PDF format
Financial proposal (budget) in MS Excel in Kenyan Shillings.

Note: The documents must be arranged as above serialized

CV of the applicant with contact details for three referees; if the applicant intends to work in a team, she/he should indicate all team members and attach CVs. Highlight the Team leader.

All documents must be submitted not later than 5.00 pm, 29^th August 2025 via email to recruit@covaw.or.ke with subject: “Development of a Case Study on the Value of Childcare Work in the Economic Empowerment of Women.“