Consultancy Opportunity: Research to Document the Status of Paid Female Childcare Workers in Kenya and Malawi

Are you a passionate academic researcher with expertise in gender, Women’s rights, labor, and childcare issues? Uthabiti Africa is seeking a Research Consultant to lead a critical study on the status of paid childcare workers in Kenya and Malawi. This consultancy offers an opportunity to contribute to transformative policy reforms and actions that promote gender equality and improve the lives of childcare workers and families across two nations. The research will lead to the development of the 2nd Status of Female Childcare Workers Report to be produced in time for the Women in Childcare Forum 2026.

The consultant will undertake comprehensive research, documenting working conditions, training needs, remuneration, and overall well-being of childcare workers (including domestic workers). The findings will inform evidence-based policies and strategic interventions for creating a sustainable and equitable childcare sector. The role will fit a researcher within an academic or research institution with capacity to leverage on existing resources to produce a quality report. The report is expected to be a tool for amplifying the needs of childcare workers on the continent, with Kenya and Malawi serving as examples.

The consultancy is part of the Action for Paid Childcare Sector Transformation (ACT) Project, which aims to address gender disparities, unsafe working conditions, low remuneration, and systemic challenges facing paid childcare workers in Kenya and Malawi. Implemented in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC); Women Legal Resources Centre(WOLREC) and the Coalition on Violence Against Women, the project will be implemented inNairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega in Kenya and in Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi. The project is implemented under Uthabiti’s Collaborative Action for Childcare (CAC) in Africa platform which promotes cooperation, co-creation, co-innovation, and learning initiated by Uthabiti Africa to accelerate quality, affordable childcare for all. Under the CAC framework, children and caregivers are at the Centre, governments in the lead and all actors work together to support government action to strengthen childcare ecosystems.