The Summary Report of the Mapping of ECD Approaches and Sustainability Analysis of Community Based Child Care Centers was developed by Synergos. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap and inform policy in regards to sustainability of care centers for ECCD and to reduce drowning mortality.

Despite economic development, improvement of life expectancies, and substantial advances in ECCD in recent decades, there are many challenges still faced in the health and safety of children below 5 years of age. The main cause of death amongst children below 5 is drowning, causing 43% of deaths of children aged 1-4.

The study focuses on 3 objectives:

1. Research and document the ranges, types, and coverage of daycare center models and delivery approaches for children under 5.
2. Explore factors affecting the effectiveness of daycare center models to create scalable solutions to prevent child drowning.
3. Recommendations of potential advocacy options for more sustainable childcare models and prevention of drowning amongst children under 5.

The study was done by mapping the different kinds of care centers and whether they were run by government, international NGOs, national NGOs, or the private sector. 9 cases were studied, and the following were investigated: operations, institutional arrangements, costs and sources of support, local community leaders, care givers, and sponsoring agencies.

The scalable recommendations include:

• A more integrated approach that uses existing infrastructure and service provisions
• BEN should sensitize NGOs on importance of care centers operating for longer hours in the morning
• Care centers should include a parenting activity with modules that build more awareness on injury risks and how to prevent drowning.
• Government subsidies to care centers, taking into account local differences in operating costs
• Set of best practices for care centers developed and promoted
• Use of existing public and community facilities for childcare centers