The Cost of Implementing Child Care Reform in Kenya.

According to the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022 - 2032, the strategy will require an estimated KES 6.5 billion over the next 10 years to implement. The strategy aims to prevent unnecessary family separation, promote family and community-based care, and ensure quality standards and monitoring of alternative care services for children.

Some of the key components of the strategy include strengthening the child protection system, developing a national case management system, expanding social protection programmes, enhancing family support services, and improving data collection and analysis.

The strategy also acknowledges the need to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children on the move, such as refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. These children face increased risks of abuse, exploitation, violence, and separation from their families.

The strategy was developed with the support of UNICEF and a multi-sectoral Care Reform Core Team, under the leadership of the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS).

For more information, you can visit the links below:

National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022 - 2032 ³: Care Reform in Kenya - Better Care Network ²: Integrating Children on the Move in Care Reform In Eastern And … - Unicef

How will the strategy be implemented?            

The strategy will be implemented through a phased approach over a period of ten years. It will involve the following key steps:

Establishing a national coordination mechanism to oversee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the strategy.

Developing and implementing a national communication and advocacy plan to raise awareness and mobilize support for the strategy among various stakeholders, including children, families, communities, civil society, media, private sector and development partners.

Developing and implementing a national capacity development plan to enhance the skills and competencies of the workforce involved in child care and protection, including social workers, caregivers, managers, policy makers and regulators.

Developing and implementing a national financing plan to mobilize and allocate adequate resources for the implementation of the strategy, including domestic and external sources of funding.

Developing and implementing a national monitoring and evaluation plan to track the progress and impact of the strategy, using indicators, targets and baselines.

Current Status of Child Care in Kenya

The current state of child care in Kenya is characterized by both challenges and opportunities.

Some of the opportunities include:

The launch of the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022 - 2032, which provides a comprehensive framework and roadmap for improving the care and protection of children in Kenya.

The growth of innovative and community-based child care models, such as Kidogo, which trains and supports local women (mamapreneurs) to provide quality and affordable child care services in low-income communities.

The increasing recognition and investment in ECCE by the government, development partners, civil society, and private sector, as evidenced by the development of the National ECCE Policy Framework and the establishment of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.

Some of the challenges include:

High rates of family separation and child abandonment due to poverty, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and other factors.

Lack of quality standards and regulation for alternative care services, such as residential care, foster care, and adoption.

Limited access to affordable and quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) for children under 6 years, especially in rural and informal urban settlements.

How Private Sector can Support for Care Reform:

The private sector can be involved in child care and protection in Kenya in various ways:

A financial and material resource: Example is the Safaricom Foundation, which has supported various child protection initiatives, such as the Childline Kenya, a toll-free helpline that provides counseling, information and referral services to children and adults on issues affecting children.

A technical expertise and innovation: Example is the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which has partnered with UNICEF and the Government to develop and implement the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), a web-based platform that collects, analyzes and reports data on child protection cases.

An employment and livelihood opportunity:  Example is the Equity Group Foundation, which has implemented the Wings to Fly program, a comprehensive scholarship that provides education, mentorship and leadership development to vulnerable children from low-income households.

A corporate social responsibility:  Example is the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), which has adopted the Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP), a set of guidelines that help businesses respect and support children’s rights in their operations, policies and practices.

Challenges Facing Care Reform Implementation in Kenya

The lack of a comprehensive and coordinated legal and policy framework that supports the implementation of the National Care Reform Strategy for Children in Kenya 2022 - 2032, which provides a vision and roadmap for transforming the care system for children in need of alternative care.

The limited capacity and resources of the social welfare workforce, which is responsible for providing quality and timely services to children and families at risk of separation or in alternative care, such as assessment, case management, family support, alternative care placement, monitoring, and reintegration.

The low awareness and acceptance of family-based alternative care options, such as kinship care, foster care, or adoption, among the general public and some stakeholders, which can hinder the prevention and reduction of institutionalization of children³.

The insufficient involvement and participation of children and families in the care reform process, which can affect their ownership, empowerment, and satisfaction with the care services and outcomes.