Factive is pleased be involved in a new research project for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), in collaboration with the Business Coalition for Women (BCFW) based in Port Moresby. This new research project involves engaging with almost 30 private sector companies to better understand the childcare needs of working parents in PNG, and to identify the costs and opportunities of employer-supported childcare.
Access to high-quality, affordable childcare is severely limited in many developing countries and this is also the case for working parents in PNG. This is due in part to a lack of government support for childcare services, as well as a lack of private sector investment in the sector. As a result, many working parents in these countries rely on informal childcare arrangements, such as leaving their children with relatives or neighbors, or perhaps leaving them at home unsupervised.
Previous research into employer-supported childcare in other countries has highlighted the economic benefits of investing in childcare services. Studies have shown that access to affordable, high-quality childcare can have a positive impact on women’s labor force participation rates, as well as on children’s cognitive and social development.
IFC has identified several strategies for improving the availability and quality of childcare in developing economies. These include:
We look forward to working with IFC and the wonderful team at the BCFW over the next few months, as we first collect data through a survey, group discussions, and interviews, and then analyse this data in collaboration with the companies and other stakeholders.
Factive previously supported IFC’s research on childcare in Myanmar. It’s now great to be working back in PNG!