June 18, 2026 – The Center for Global Development released a policy paper that evaluates how childcare investment has evolved by examining childcare-related projects approved by 10 multilateral development banks between June 2021 and December 2024, supplemented by interviews with childcare leads at the banks and project teams. Drawing on portfolio analysis and practitioner interviews, the paper identifies lessons for future multilateral development bank investments, including the importance of diagnostics and business-case evidence, cross-sectoral partnerships, context-specific models, adaptive implementation, and stronger attention to quality, financing, institutional ownership, and evidence.
The paper was launched during a webinar. Watch the recording to learn more.