Filipino women could find relief from the burden of unpaid care work as the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $900,000 technical assistance project to advance quality and affordable childcare across Asia and the Pacific.
The project, "Promoting Sustainable Investments in Quality and Affordable Childcare in Asia and the Pacific," focuses on four developing countries/areas in the region, including the Philippines, Cook Islands, Kyrgyz Republic, and Vanuatu.
Approved on Dec. 6, the initiative will focus on developing policies, improving childcare services, and building capacity to enhance access to affordable childcare for children aged 0-6 years, ADB said.
"This will be the first regional technical assistance (TA) of the ADB focused on formal childcare provision," the multilateral lender stated in a project brief released on its website.
It added that this assistance "will provide research, policy dialogue, and capacity building to support the introduction and scaling up of quality, affordable, and accessible childcare for children aged 0-6 across Asia and the Pacific, and to accelerate socioeconomic and educational benefits for caregivers and children."
ADB stressed that expanding childcare provision aligns with the regional bank’s Strategy 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly 4 and 5.
On Dec. 9, ADB also approved a $1.5 million (around P88.45 million) technical assistance special fund to strengthen its partnership with the Philippine government.
This partnership aims to enhance climate resilience, connectivity, and inclusive growth through strategic policy advice, institutional building, and innovative business development in emerging areas.
According to the ADB, the technical assistance is based on the multilateral lender’s six-year Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the Philippines and is expected to support the government in implementing the CPS priorities.
The National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA), as the lead agency, will prioritize addressing remaining poverty, reducing inequalities, accelerating progress in gender equality, tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, enhancing environmental sustainability, and strengthening governance and institutional capacity.