Detailed description of project Back
The main objective is to conduct a national mixed methods study that will examine the state of supply and demand of under 3 childcare services in Thailand across the public-private continuum. This assignment also aims to assess the cost of inaction and forecast the demand for services to make an investment case for a developing a national policy strategy for under 3 childcare services.
The study will be conducted in consultation with key stakeholders involving the relevant ministries, UN and other multilateral agencies, private sector, and representatives from academia and research institutes. The specific objectives of this study are to:
- Identify and assess the accessibility and affordability of existing under 3 childcare policies and accompanying frameworks and services (including the number, type, enrolment, cost, workforce, and quality among others) and estimate the demand and supply and the nature of the service gap;
- Gather and assess information on perceptions and preferences for under 3 childcare services from parents/extended caregivers, including workers who leave their young children with extended family for care, and working and non-working mothers and service providers (public and private where available);
- Utilize available data to assess demographic and labour market dynamics to assess the cost of inaction and forecast future demand for services to align with national economic ambitions;
- Provide recommendations and costed policy options (such as public/private partnerships and the role of public funding) for both new/existing policy levers to expand affordable and quality childcare services for children below three.
The study is expected to span thematic areas relating to analysis of existing policies and regulatory frameworks, number and types of care, the cost and funding of services across the public and private continuum, perceptions of under 3 childcare services, issues related to access, quality and affordability, as well as implications of population and gender and labour market dynamics evident in Thailand. The research will involve:
- A policy and landscape analysis;
- An analysis of available data and supplemented by relevant and prioritized primary data collection;
- In-depth qualitative research to provide contextual information; and dissemination and policy engagement from the outset to maximize evidence uptake and use.
Overall, the study will be conducted through a gender and equity lens and ensure families and children from marginalized communities (such as migrant families, refugees, and children with disabilities) are represented in the study sample and research questions.
Type of services provided
- Desk study, including a study of existing policy and regulatory documents, a review of any previous studies or assessments made on early childhood care in Thailand, a study of existing data sets on factors influencing the need and the supply of childcare;
- Drafting a conceptual framework for the study to guide the study, assessment process, and reporting;
- Secondary data analysis phase resulting in a provisional report with first findings, indications on correlations and a reviewed framework;
- Mapping of sampled areas;
- Designing and organising primary data collection including a sampling methodology based on available secondary data and other national survey methods and instruments;
- Identification of stakeholders to be consulted /surveyed on both supply and demand side;
- Definition of a theory-based mixed-methods data collection approach based on a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods and tools;
- Support to the organisation of the quantitative and qualitative survey and other instruments and roll out of primary data collection;
- In-depth analysis and triangulation with findings from the desk-based phase and formulation of several policy options;
- Reports and presentations of study findings.
Main staff provided:
- Team Leader (75 w/d);
- ECDE Expert (50 w/d);
- National Coordinator (90 w/d).
