Many Ethiopian women working in the formal sector face challenges balancing care responsibilities for a newborn and work obligations. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many Ethiopian women face the decision to quit their job to accommodate breastfeeding and childcare rather than return to their career. Daycare centers are an essential step to addressing the needs of working women who share the majority of care-taking tasks, especially in the first six months. To address this gap, the Ministry of Health Women, Children, and Youth Affairs Directorate launched the first daycare center on Ministry premises, supported by the Transform: Primary Health Care Activity. Building on the success of this center, the Activity administered subgrants to support additional daycare centers at Regional Health Bureaus in Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR). This brief outlines the Activity’s process for adapting daycare center technical standards, procuring critical items for setup, and managing day-to-day functions as guidance and lessons learned for entities establishing daycare centers in their facilities. 

Photo Credit: Nena Terrell/USAID Ethiopia