Kidogo uses an innovative social franchising approach to identify, train and support female entrepreneurs (Mamapreneurs) to start or grow their own early childhood education micro-businesses. Kidogo’s growing network of Mamapreneurs provide quality childcare & early childhood services in their local communities for an affordable fee. This enables children to receive quality early childhood education during their essential first 5 years of life when 90% of brain development occurs.
Over 8 years Kidogo has become the largest childcare network in Kenya with +750 Franchised Kidogo Mamapreneurs serving 16,000 children – each direct impact on a child has an indirect multiplier effect of 3 (improved household impact on mothers and older siblings). Kidogo’s holistic approach, which includes nutrition interventions, has led to a 32% reduction in wasting and 23% reduction in stunting in one year.
Future Developments
We have ambitious scaling plans: 100,000 Kidogo Kids across East Africa by 2030. To accomplish this, we are collaborating with civil society organizations who can replicate our model and building key partnerships with the government.